Development of a GIS-based failure investigation system for highway soil slopes

Abstract

A framework for preparation of an early warning system was developed for Maryland, using a GIS database and a collective overlay of maps that highlight highway slopes susceptible to soil slides or slope failures in advance through spatial and statistical analysis. Data for existing soil slope failures was collected from geotechnical reports and field visits. A total of 48 slope failures were recorded and analyzed. Six factors, including event precipitation, geological formation, land cover, slope history, slope angle, and elevation were considered to affect highway soil slope stability. The observed trends indicate that precipitation and poor surface or subsurface drainage conditions are principal factors causing slope failures. 96% of the failed slopes have an open drainage section. A majority of the failed slopes lie in regions with relatively high event precipitation (P>200 mm). 90% of the existing failures are surficial erosion type failures, and only 1 out of the 42 slope failures is deep rotational type failure. More than half of the analyzed slope failures have occurred in regions having low density land cover. 46% of failures are on slopes with slope angles between 20° and 30°. Influx of more data relating to failed slopes should give rise to more trends, and thus the developed slope management system will aid the state highway engineers in prudential budget allocation and prioritizing different remediation projects based on the literature reviewed on the principles, concepts, techniques, and methodology for slope instability evaluation (Leshchinsky et al., 2015).

Graphical abstract

Keywords

soil slope / slope management system / geographic information system / hazard mapping

References

[1] Aleotti P, Chowdhury R (1999). Landslide hazard assessment: summary review and new perspectives. Bull Eng Geol Environ, 58(1): 21–44

[2] Anbalagan R, Singh B (1996). Landslide hazard and risk assessment mapping of mountainous terrains—A case study from Kumaun Hymalaya, India. Eng Geol, 43(4): 237–246

[3] Army U S (2003). Living on the Coast: Protecting Investments in Shore Property on the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office, Detroit District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detrioit, MI.

[4] BBC (2014). Japan landslides kill 32 in Hiroshima prefecture.

[5] Bhattarai P, Tiwari B, Marui H, Aoyama K (2004). Quantitative Slope Stability Mapping With ArcGIS: Prioritize Highway Maintenance. Proceedings of ESRI’s 24th Annual International User’s Conference, San Diego. ESRI.

[6] Brundsen D (1973). Application of systems theory to the study of mass movement. Geologica e Idrogeologia, Univ. of Baria.

[7] Cardinali M, Reichenbach P, Guzzetti F, Ardizzone F, Antonini G, Galli M, Cacciano M, Castellani M, Salvati P (2002). A geomorphological approach to the estimation of landlside hazards and risks in Umbria, Central Italy. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci, 2(1/2): 57–72

[8] Carrara A, Guzzetti F, Cardinali M, Reichenbach P (1999). Use of GIS technology in the prediction and monitoring of landslide hazard. Nat Hazards, 20(2/3): 117–135

[9] Cavallo A, Norese M F (2001). GIS and Multicriteria Analysis to Evaluate Map Erosion and Landslide Hazards. Informatica., 12: 25–44 (Lithunian Academy of Sciences.)

[10] Chase R, Edil T, Kehew A, Keillor P, Mickelson D (2005). Stabilizing Coastal Slopes on the Great Lakes, University of Wisonsin Se Grant Institute, Madison, WI.

[11] Chau K T, Sze Y L, Fung M K, Wong W Y, Fong E L, Chan L C P (2004). Landslide hazardanalysis for Hong Kong using landslide inventory and GIS. Computers and Geosciences, 30(4): 429–443

[12] Chung C J F, Fabbri A G (1999). Probabilistic Prediction Models for Landslide Hazard Mapping. Photogramm Eng Remote Sensing, 65(12): 1389–1399

[13] Clerici A, Perego S, Tellini C, Vescovi P (2002). A procedure for landslide susceptibility zonation by the conditional analysis method. Geomorphology, 48(4): 349–364

[14] Cruden D M, Varnes D J (1996). Landslides: types and processes. In: Turner A K, Schuster L R, eds. Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation. Transportation Research Board Special Report, No. 247, 36–75

[15] Dai F C, Lee C F (2002). Landslide characterisitcs and slope instability modelling using GIS, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Geomorphology, 42(3–4): 213–228

[16] Dikau R, Brundsen D, Schrott L, Ibsen M L (1996). Landslide Recognition: Identification, Movement and Causes. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 274 p

[17] Edwards J Jr (1981). A brief description of the geology of Maryland. Pamphlet Series. Maryland Geological Survey

[18] Fall M, Azzam R, Noubactep C (2006). A multi-method approach to study the stability of natural slopes and landslide susceptibility mapping. Eng Geol, 82(4): 241–263

[19] Fenti V, Silvano S, Spagna V (1979). Methodological proposal for an engineering geomorphological map, forecasting rockfalls in the Alps. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology, 19(1): 134–138

[20] Freitag B, Bolton S, Westerlund F, Clark J (2009). Floodplain Management: A New Approach for a New Era. Island Press, p 77

[21] Glade T, Anderson M, Crozier M J (2005). Landslide Hazard and Risk. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 824 p

[22] Gorsevski P V, Gessler P E, Foltz R B, Elliot W J (2006). Spatial Prediction of Landslide Hazard Using Logistic Regression and ROC Analysis. Transactions in GIS, 10(3): 395–415

[23] Gupta P, Anbalagan R (1997). Slope stability of Theri Dam Reservoir Area, India, using landslide hazard zonation (LHZ) mapping. Q J Eng Geol, 30(1): 27–36

[24] Guzzetti F, Carrara A, Cardinali M, Reichenbach P (1999). Landslide hazard evaluation: a review of current techniques and their application in a multi-scale study, Central Italy. Geomorphology, 31(1–4): 181–216

[25] He Y, Beighley E R (2008). GIS-based regional landslide susceptibility mapping: a case study in southern California. Earth Surf Process Landf, 33(3): 380–393

[26] Kienholz H (1978). Maps of geomorphology and natural hazard of Griendelwald, Switzerland, scale 1:10 000. Artic and Alpine Research 10: 169–184

[27] KING5 (2014). Oso landslide body officially identified, KING5.com

[28] Lee S, Choi J (2004). Landslide susceptibility mapping using GIS and the weight-of-evidence model. Int J Geogr Inf Sci, 18(8): 789–814

[29] Leroi E (1996). Landslide hazard-risk maps at different scales: objectives, tools and developements. In: Senneset K, ed. Landslides. Rotterdam: Balkema, 35–51

[30] Leshchinsky B, Olsen M, Tanyu B F (2015). Contour connection method for automated identification and classification of landslide deposits. Journal of Computers and Geosciences, 74: 27–38

[31] McGee W J (1888). The Geology of the Head of Chesapeake Bay. Geological Survey 7th Annual Report, 537–646

[32] Morton D M, Alvares R M, Campbell R H (2003). Preliminary Soil-Slip Susceptibility Maps, Southwestern California, US Geological Survey Open-File Report 03–17

[33] NRC (2004). Partnerships for Reducing Landslide Risk: Assessment of the National Landslide Hazards Mitigation Strategy. National Research Council, National Academies Press: Washington, DC; 131

[34] Popescu M E (2002). Landslide Causal Factors and Landslide Remedial Options. Proceedings 3rd International Conference on Landslides, Slope Stability and Safety of Infra-Structures, Singapore. 61–81

[35] Ramanathan R S (2012). Soil Slope Failure Investigation Management System. M.S. Thesis, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 121 p

[36] Rupke J, Cammeraat E, Seijmonsbergen A C, van Westen C J V (1988). Engineering geomorphology of Widentobel Catchment, Appenzell and Sankt Gallen, Switzerland: a geomorphological inventory system applied to geotechnical appraisal of slope stability. Eng Geol, 26(1): 33–68

[37] Saboya F, da Glória Alves M, Dias Pinto W (2006). Assessment of failure susceptibility of soil slopes using fuzzy logic. Eng Geol, 86(4): 211–224

[38] Sakellariou M G, Ferentinou M D (2001). GIS-based estimation of Slope Stability. Nat Hazards Rev, 2(1): 12–21

[39] Selby M J (1993). Hillslope Materials and Processes. Oxford University Press, 451 p

[40] Singh H, Huat B B (2008). Slope Assessment Systems: a review and evaluation of current techniques used for cut slopes in mountainous terrain of West Malaysia. Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 13: 1–24

[41] Skempton A W (1953). Soil Mechanics in relation to geology. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geology Society, 29(1): 33–62

[42] Turner A K, Schuster R L (1996). Lanslides: Investigation and Mitigation. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press, 673 p

[43] U. S. Census Bureau (2011). “2010 Resident Population Data”. U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 26 December 2010.

[44] USGS (2004). Lanslides Types and Processes, Fact Sheet 2004–3072, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

[45] van Westen C J, Rengers N, Terlien M T J, Soeters R. (1997). Prediction of the occurrence of slope instability phenomena through GIS-based hazard zonation. Geol Rundsch, 86: 404–414

[46] Wachal D J, Hudak P F (2000). Mapping landslide susceptibility in Travis County, Texas, USA. GeoJournal, 51(3): 245–253

[47] Wang H, Liu G, Xu W, Wang G (2005). GIS-based landslide hazard assessment: an overview. Prog Phys Geogr, 29(4): 548–567

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg