GeoHazards

Precise modeling of narrow gorges is challenging due to extreme confinement, hindering visibility and accessibility. These environments often render Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-based positioning unfeasible, a difficulty compounded by water and dense vegetation. Consequently, multi-technique data fusion is required. This study proposes a robust methodology to generate high-resolution 3D models of such complex environments by integrating multiple aerial (e.g., Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs) and terrestrial techniques. A multi-sensor approach combined UAV-Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and UAV-photogrammetry for external areas with Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), Mobile Mapping System (MMS), and Spherical Photogrammetry (SP) for the canyon floor. Furthermore, the representativeness of these 3D models was analyzed against standard Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) for determining water height levels during flood events. A one-dimensional hydraulic (1DH) model compared the 3D mesh approach with the traditional 2.5D perspective in a challenging, narrow canyon prone to flooding. Our results show that traditional 2.5D DTMs significantly over- or underestimate water levels in narrow sections—failing to account for overhangs and vertical wall irregularities—whereas high-resolution 3D meshes provide a more realistic representation of hydraulic behavior. This work demonstrates that multi-sensor data fusion is essential for accurate flood risk management and infrastructure planning in complex fluvial environments. Full article

Building resilience is largely affected by the socioeconomic characteristics of the community as well as the physical and environmental local characteristics. The effectiveness of the adopted policies for resilience building partly relies on considering public concerns and insights. Insights from public narratives can enrich the resilience-building policies by sharing experiences or evidence from past disasters. Furthermore, it reveals priorities and concerns that society is expecting to be addressed. Even if the concerns are triggered by misinformation, addressing them (e.g., by disseminating corrective information) can increase the success of resilience-building policies. Tracing the public narrative over time shows how much people’s perspectives have changed after the disaster and how the relief and resilience-building efforts were compatible with society’s expectations. This study is aimed at extracting such insights from the public narrative on social media platforms after Morocco’s 2023 earthquake. Full article

A dam breach is an uncommon but profoundly destructive event that transpires when a dam collapses, releasing accumulated water downstream and leading to extensive damage. This study focuses on the Jure landslide dam, located in the Sindhupalchowk district, Nepal. The region is characterized by complex river channels and steep terrains, which are significantly influenced by flood dynamics. This study aims to establish a compressive numerical simulation of a two-dimensional dam breach unsteady flow hydraulic model to simulate the dam breach process and downstream flood propagation. The study analyzes the dynamics of the Jure landslide dam outburst flood, emphasizing the flood characteristics, inundation, and velocity hazards in the mitigation of flood impacts. The results reveal that the peak discharge of the Jure landside dam was 5336.7 m³/s, while it decreased to 1181.4 m³/s when traveling 35 km. The flood depth obtained by 2D (HEC-RAS) downstream of the dam rages between 0.0334 and 55.9 m, while the corresponding estimated peak flow velocity of simulated breaches was 21.46 m/s, demonstrating extreme hydraulic force conditions, capable of catastrophe. The proposed hydraulic simulations reveal significant variations in overflow dynamics across different terrain types, with narrower sections exhibiting faster flood progression and greater water depths. The findings underscore the necessity of accounting for terrain heterogeneity in future flood risk assessments. This work offers valuable insights into the emergency management of landslide dams in similar regions. Full article

This work deals with the quantification of long-term fault slip rates as a basis for seismic hazard assessment along a segment of the Eastern Messinia Fault Zone (EMFZ) in southwestern Peloponnese, Greece. Using cosmogenic ³⁶Cl exposure dating, it provides independent numerical constraints on recent deformation. The resulting late Holocene slip-rate estimates (~0.32–0.46 mm/yr) confirm ongoing fault activity, consistent with earlier paleoseismological and geomorphic studies, while indicating spatially distributed extension. These rates imply loading timescales of several hundred years for moderate (Mw ≈ 5.8–6.0) earthquakes. Although individual exposure ages cannot be uniquely associated with single seismic events, they offer robust benchmarks for cumulative displacement and long-term strain accumulation. Overall, this work demonstrates how numerical dating methods (particularly cosmogenic nuclide techniques applied to carbonate bedrock) can link geological observations with engineering requirements by constraining fault behavior over 10³–10⁵ year timescales and improving long-term seismic hazard evaluation in complex tectonic settings. Full article

The territory of the Republic of Armenia (RA) lies within the central Arabia–Eurasia collision zone and is characterized by rugged mountain landscapes, complex geology, active faulting, and seismicity. Armenia is highly vulnerable to seismic and landslide hazards, with more than 2504 active landslides mapped in the country. A significant landslide in the Tumanyan Community, Lori Marz, was activated in January 2018 and threatened critical infrastructure, including the railway linking Armenia to Georgia and the M6 interstate highway. The landslide’s activation was driven by groundwater, a nearby water reservoir leak, and adjacent infrastructure. Preliminary hazard analysis revealed that further movement of the landslide could dam the Debed River, leading to potentially catastrophic downstream impacts. In response, the Minister of Emergency Situations of RA requested urgent studies by the Institute of Geological Sciences of NAS RA. Surveys began on 22 January 2018, involving an interdisciplinary approach including geotechnical study, UAV-based digital mapping, and application of geophysical methods, such as MASW, microtremor recordings, GPR, and VES. The combination of these methods provided reliable information on the landslide’s geotechnical structure, identified the sliding plane, and allowed for numerical slope stability modeling, which confirmed the landslide’s unstable condition and susceptibility to reactivation from earthquakes or elevated groundwater. Based on this complex research, protective measures were developed and applied, including, in particular, horizontal drilling to dewater the sliding plane. These emergency measures stabilized the landslide, mitigating immediate threats to infrastructure and ensuring relative safety. Full article

Levee overtopping poses a significant risk to flood defense infrastructure by inducing severe erosion and scour, particularly along the landward slope and toe regions. This study investigates the effectiveness of an integrated protection system combining seamless cement coating with strategically placed H-type piles to mitigate scour and modify flow dynamics under prolonged overflowing. A series of physical model tests were conducted to evaluate full and partial concrete slope protection with and without pile integration. Results showed that the seamless concrete revetment significantly delayed slope failure, resisted joint-related seepage, acted as a rigid cantilever, and maintained the structural integrity despite surrounding erosion. The inclusion of emergent H-type piles at the downstream toe disrupted the overflow jet, enhanced early energy dissipation, and reduced scour dimensions. The FC + P_ES (fully coated with emergent piles) configuration exhibited the strongest performance, reducing downstream scour length by 40%, upstream extent by 66.7%, and maximum scour depth by 7.7% compared to the FC_NP (fully coated, no-piles) condition. Partial slope coverage combined with emergent piles delayed scour initiation by approximately threefold, highlighting the synergistic effect of combined surface and flow-deflected structures measures. Conversely, bed-level piles redirected jet energy beneath the surface layer, intensifying vertical scour and upstream erosion, indicating the critical importance of pile placement and elevation. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating seamless surface protection with vertical flow disrupters to effectively manage flow-induced erosion and enhance levee resilience against overtopping floods. This hybrid approach offers a practical solution for flood-prone riverine levee systems. Full article

This paper presents a systematic review of research investigating the effects of elevated temperatures on sedimentary rocks. The literature was selected using keyword-based searches of titles, abstracts, and keywords in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. In total, 107 relevant articles published between 2010 and 2024 were critically examined to address research questions on temperature-treated sedimentary rocks. Furthermore, both bibliometric analysis and systematic synthesis of experimental data were performed. The review identifies sandstone as the most-studied rock type, followed by limestone. It reveals that standard experimental methods include unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), and P-wave velocity tests. The study’s findings indicate that a temperature threshold of 400–600 °C governs deterioration in engineering properties, driven by the quartz α–β transition in sandstones and calcite decomposition in limestones. Normalized data show that UCS, BTS, and elastic modulus decline significantly beyond this threshold, while porosity increases. The study highlights the influence of fabric anisotropy, mineralogy, and heating conditions on rock behaviour, and identifies research gaps related to confined testing, real-fire scenarios, and anisotropic rocks. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the literature, the principal factors and processes occurring at different temperature ranges were identified and discussed. Full article

Uranium production tailing ponds in Kamyanske (Ukraine) are objects of increased radioecological danger. Violation of the stability and integrity of containment dams threatens the uncontrolled spread of radionuclides. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess the factors affecting the technical condition and environmental safety of the Sukhachivske tailing dam. The study included a visual inspection and detailed geophysical work using the natural pulse electromagnetic field of the Earth (NPEMFE) method. This method was chosen to identify hidden filtration paths and stress zones in the body of the earth dam. An analysis of the spatial distribution of waterlogging, filtration, and fissuring in the hydraulic structure was performed. Based on the results of the NPEMFE survey, six zones with varying degrees of waterlogging and stress–strain states of the structure were identified. The presence of externally unmanifested filtration paths and suffusion areas was established, and a tectonic scheme of fracture development in the dam body was compiled. A correlation was found between the dominant azimuths of crack extension (70–79° and 350–359°) and the directions of regional tectonic lineament zones, at the intersection of which the tailing pond is located. It has been established that modern tectonic movements along fault zones create zones of permeability, which serve as primary pathways for water filtration and further development of suffusion. This conclusion introduces a new tectonic feature for risk diagnosis and monitoring of similar hydraulic structures. Full article

Ground subsidence in mined-out areas has irreversible impacts on residents’ lives and infrastructure, making its monitoring and prediction crucial for ensuring safety, protecting the ecological environment, and promoting sustainable development. This study employed the Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique to process Sentinel-1A satellite images of Liaoyuan’s Northern New District from August 2022 to March 2025, deriving ground deformation data. The SBAS-InSAR results were validated using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) measurements. Monitoring revealed deformation rates ranging from −26.80 mm/year (subsidence) to 13.12 mm/year (uplift) in the area, with a maximum cumulative subsidence of 59.59 mm observed near the Xi’an Sixth District. Based on spatiotemporal patterns, most mining-induced subsidence in the study area is in its late stage, primarily caused by progressive compaction of fractured rock masses and voids within the collapse and fracture zones. Using subsidence data from August 2022 to March 2024, three prediction models—LSTM, GRU, and TCN-GRU—were trained and subsequently applied to forecast subsidence from March 2024 to August 2025. Comparisons between the predictions and SBAS-InSAR measurements showed that all models achieved high accuracy. Among them, the TCN-GRU model yielded predictions closest to the actual values, with a correlation coefficient exceeding 0.95, validating its potential for application in time-series settlement monitoring. Full article

Post-disaster reconstruction requires instruments capable of ensuring procedural consistency, administrative transparency, and the systematic integration of geohazards, all of which are essential for safeguarding communities. This study presents the digital platform established under Italian Law 55/2019 for the reconstruction of the areas on Mt. Etna affected by the Mw 4.9 earthquake of 26 December 2018, emphasizing its innovative contribution to current international approaches to reconstruction governance. The platform standardizes the entire administrative workflow and is centered on the Parametric Form, which enables an objective calculation of eligible reconstruction grants based on damage indicators, vulnerability metrics, and parametric cost functions. A defining feature of the Etna model is the structural integration between administrative procedures and geohazard mitigation, achieved through updated hazard maps and protocols that incorporate geological, hydrogeological, and geomorphological conditions. This approach reframes reconstruction as an opportunity to reduce overall territorial vulnerability. The system also includes public monitoring tools (WebGIS and dashboards) that enhance traceability, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. Expected outcomes include shorter administrative timelines, improved interinstitutional coordination, and the potential transferability of the model to other emergency contexts. In comparison with international cases, the Etna experience represents an original integration of digitalization, parametric assessment, and site-specific hazard mitigation. Full article

Landslides are a persistent hazard in the tectonically active Central Himalaya, frequently affecting roads and settlements. However, quantitative assessments of their spatial drivers have remained limited. This study investigated landslide susceptibility along a 90 km section of the Uttarkashi–Gangotri highway to identify dominant triggering factors and generate a reliable risk map. We applied the AHP–GIS framework, guided by a multi-criteria decision-making approach. Nine thematic parameters, such as slope, geology, lineament density, drainage density, proximity to roads, rainfall, aspect, curvature, and land use/land cover were utilised to quantify their relative influence on slope failure. Results showed that slope (23%), geology (22%), and lineament density (21%) were the most influential factors. Secondary contributions came from drainage density (9%), proximity to roads (8%), and rainfall (>231 mm). The susceptibility map was validated using 105 landslide inventory points, with 64 events (61%) located in very high-risk zones and 31 (30%) in high-risk zones. The model achieved a predictive accuracy of 0.817 based on the Area Under the Curve (AUC) metric. High-risk zones are aligned with steep slopes (30–50°), convex curvatures, and barren land, particularly near infrastructure. These findings provide a scientific tool for hazard mitigation and support disaster risk reduction in similar mountainous regions worldwide, contributing to safer infrastructure development. Full article

As the frequency and severity of extreme weather events may increase due to climate change, understanding their impacts on water systems, resources, and infrastructure becomes very important. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on how extreme storms and floods disrupt interrelated elements comprising water systems by examining the case of Storm Daniel, which struck the Thessaly region of Greece in September 2023. Using a multi-source approach, including field data, institutional reports, scientific assessments, and publications, the study systematically identifies and categorizes the impacts of the storm and the ensuing flood across surface waters, drinking water supply, and wastewater infrastructure and other water-related systems through various mechanisms. The findings provide an overview of how such extreme storms may affect such systems and reveal widespread, interconnected disruptions that highlight systemic vulnerabilities in both natural and engineered systems, synthesizing these impact pathways. The study presents evidence of poor resilience against extreme events and climate change hazards in water-related infrastructure. Full article

Freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) are a prevalent weathering process that threatens the stability of canal slopes in seasonally frozen regions. This study combines direct shear tests under multiple F-T cycles with coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical numerical modeling to investigate the failure mechanisms of slopes with different moisture contents (18%, 22%, 26%). The test results quantify a marked strength degradation, where the cohesion decreases to approximately 50% of its initial value and the internal friction angle is weakened by about 10% after 10 freeze–thaw cycles. The simulation reveals that temperature gradient-driven moisture migration is the core process, leading to a dynamic stress–strain concentration zone that propagates from the upper slope to the toe. The safety factors of the three soil specimens with different moisture contents fell below the critical threshold of 1.3. They registered values of 1.02, 0.99, and 0.78 within 44, 44, and 46 days, which subsequently induced shallow failure. The failure mechanism elucidated in this study enhances the understanding of freeze–thaw-induced slope instability in seasonally frozen regions. Full article

This study investigates flooding and erosion impacts and human responses in Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini national parks in Aotearoa New Zealand. These fast-eroding landscapes provide important test cases and insights for considering the public access dimensions of climate change. Our objectives were to explore and characterise the often-overlooked role of public access as a ubiquitous concern for protected areas and other area-based conservation approaches that facilitate connections between people and nature alongside their protective functions. We employed a mixed-methods approach including volunteered geographic information (VGI) from a park user survey (n = 273) and detailed case studies of change on two iconic mountaineering routes based on geospatial analyses of digital elevation models spanning 1986–2022. VGI data identified 36 adversely affected locations while 21% of respondents also identified beneficial aspects of recent landscape changes. Geophysical changes could be perceived differently by different stakeholders, illustrating the potential for competing demands on management responses. Impacts of rainfall-triggered erosion events were explored in case studies of damaged access infrastructure (e.g., roads, tracks, bridges). Adaptive responses resulted from formal or informal (park user-led) actions including re-routing, rebuilding, or abandonment of pre-existing infrastructure. Three widely transferable dimensions of public access management are identified: providing access that supports the core functions of protected areas; evaluating the impacts of both physical changes and human responses to them; and managing tensions between stakeholder preferences. Improved attention to the role of access is essential for effective climate change adaptation in parks and reserves. Full article

Monitoring the stability of hydraulic structures such as dams and reservoirs in seismically active regions is essential for ensuring their safety and operational reliability. This study presents a comprehensive geospatial approach combining lineament analysis and geodynamic zoning to assess the structural stability of the Voroshilov and Priyut reservoirs located in the Almaty region, Kazakhstan. A regional lineament map was generated using ASTER GDEM data, while ALOS PALSAR data were used for detailed local analysis. Lineaments were extracted and analyzed through automated processing in PCI Geomatica. Lineament density maps and azimuthal rose diagrams were constructed to identify zones of tectonic weakness and assess regional structural patterns. Integration of lineament density, GPS velocity fields, InSAR deformation data, and probabilistic seismic hazard maps enabled the development of a detailed geodynamic zoning model. Results show that the studied sites are located within zones of low local geodynamic activity, with lineament densities of 0.8–1.2 km/km², significantly lower than regional averages of 3–4 km/km². GPS velocities in the area do not exceed 4 mm/year, and InSAR analysis indicates minimal surface deformation (<5 mm/year). Despite this apparent local stability, the 2024 Voroshilov Dam failure highlights the cumulative effect of regional seismic stresses (PGA up to 0.9 g) and localized filtration along fracture zones as critical risk factors. The proposed geodynamic zoning correctly identified the site as structurally stable under normal conditions but indicates that even low-activity zones are vulnerable under cumulative seismic loading. This demonstrates that an integrated approach combining remote sensing, geodetic, and seismic data can provide quantitative assessments for dam safety, predict potential high-risk zones, and support preventive monitoring in tectonically active regions. Full article

Catastrophic mass flows originating from the high mountain cryosphere often cause cascading hazards. With increasing human activities in the alpine region and the sensitivity of the cryosphere to climate warming, cryospheric hazards are becoming more frequent in the mountain regions. Monitoring the evolution and impact of the glaciers and ice-rock avalanches and hazard consequences in the mountain regions is crucial to understand nature and drivers of mass flow process in order to prevent and mitigate potential hazard risks. In this study, the glacier and ice-rock avalanches that occurred in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) were investigated based on the Sentinel-2 satellite data and in situ observations, and the main driving forces and impacts on the regional environment, landscape, and geomorphological conditions were also analyzed. The results showed that the avalanche deposit of Arutso glacier No. 53 completely melted away in 2 years, while the deposit of Arutso glacier No. 50 melted in 7 years. Four large-scale ice-rock avalanches in the Sedongpu basin not only had significant impacts on the river flow, landscape, and geomorphologic shape in the basin, but also caused serious disasters in the region and beyond. These glacier and ice-rock avalanches were caused by temperature anomaly, heavy precipitation, climate warming, and seismic activity, etc., which act on the specific glacier properties in the high mountain regions. The study highlights scientific advances should support and benefit the remote and vulnerable mountain communities to make mountain regions safer. Full article

The optimization of seismic isolation parameters is essential for balancing displacement demand and acceleration control in base-isolated structures. While numerous studies have applied metaheuristic algorithms to isolator tuning, the influence of objective-function weighting on optimal design outcomes remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the effects of displacement and acceleration on control performance in a multi-objective optimization function. Thus, acceleration can be reduced economically by limiting the isolator displacement capacity. In the study, the effective values of the acceleration and displacement coefficients in the objective function of the problem are changed for the design optimization of seismic base isolators, and the determination of the most appropriate weights in the equation and their effects on the control are investigated. In the optimization process, the adaptive harmony search algorithm, which is obtained by adapting the parameters of the harmony search algorithm inspired by the search for the best harmony, is used. The results demonstrate that increased emphasis on acceleration minimization leads to longer effective isolation periods and higher damping ratios, whereas displacement-dominated weighting results in stiffer isolation systems with reduced mobility. Full article

This study presents a validated numerical investigation into the seismic liquefaction potential of fine-grained reclaimed sediments commonly encountered in coastal, containment, and reclamation projects. Fine-grained reclaimed sediments pose a particular challenge for seismic liquefaction assessment due to their low permeability, high fines content, and complex cyclic response under earthquake loading. A fully coupled, nonlinear finite element model was developed using the Pressure-Dependent Multi-Yield (PDMY) constitutive framework, calibrated against laboratory Cyclic Direct Simple Shear (CDSS) tests and verified using in situ Cone Penetration Tests with pore pressure measurement (CPTu). The model effectively captured the dynamic response of saturated sediments, including excess pore pressure generation, cyclic mobility, and post-liquefaction behavior, under three earthquake ground motions: Livermore, Chi-Chi, and Loma Prieta. Results showed that near-surface layers (0–2.3 m) experienced full liquefaction within two to three cycles, with excess pore pressure ratios (R_u) approaching 1.0 and peak pressures closely matching laboratory data with less than 10% deviation. The numerical approach revealed that traditional CPT-based cyclic resistance methods underestimated liquefaction susceptibility in intermediate layers due to limitations in accounting for pore pressure redistribution, evolving permeability, and seismic amplification effects. In contrast, the finite element model captured progressive strength degradation, revealing strength gain in deeper layers due to consolidation, while upper zones remained vulnerable due to low confinement and resonance effects. A critical threshold of R_u ≈ 0.8 was identified as the onset of rapid shear strength loss. The findings confirm the advantage of advanced numerical modeling over empirical methods in capturing the complex cyclic behavior of reclaimed sediments and support the adoption of performance-based seismic design for such geotechnically sensitive environments. Full article

The M_JMA 7.6 (Mw 7.5) Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 1 January 2024 in Japan triggered widespread slope failures across northern Noto region, but their spatial controls and susceptibility patterns remain poorly quantified. Most previous studies have focused mainly on fault rupture, ground deformation, and tsunami impacts, leaving a clear gap in machine learning based assessment of earthquake-induced slope failures. This study integrates 2323 mapped landslides with eleven conditioning factors to develop the first data-driven susceptibility framework for the 2024 event. Spatial analysis shows that 75% of the landslides are smaller than 3220 m² and nearly half occurred within about 23 km of the epicenter, reflecting concentrated ground shaking beyond the rupture zone. Terrain variables such as slope (mean 31.8°), southwest-facing aspects, and elevations of 100–300 m influenced the failure patterns, along with peak ground acceleration values of 0.8–1.1 g and proximity to roads and rivers. Six supervised machine learning models were trained, with Random Forest and Gradient Boosting achieving the highest accuracies (AUC = 0.95 and 0.94, respectively). Explainable AI using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) identified slope, epicentral distance, and peak ground acceleration as the dominant predictors. The resulting susceptibility maps align well with observed failures and provide an interpretable foundation for post-earthquake hazard assessment and regional risk reduction. Further work should integrate post-seismic rainfall, multi-temporal inventories, and InSAR deformation to support dynamic hazard assessment and improved early warning. Full article