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Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances
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Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Hazards".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 4177

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Massimiliano Bordoni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: landslide monitoring; landslide modeling; SAR interpretation for landslides analysis; soil hydrology; 3D geological modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessia Giarola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Interests: landslides monitoring; landslides modeling; soil hydrology; remote sensing
Dr. Stella Maris Moreiras

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro Científico Tecnológico, Mendoza, Argentina
Interests: rock avalanches; neotectonics; quaternary studies
Dr. Roberto J. Marin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
LandScient, Dublin, Ireland
Interests: landslides; hazard; rainfall thresholds; early warning system; geotechnical assets; deterioration model

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many regions worldwide are coping with climatic global change, which is increasing the occurrence of extreme hydro-meteorological events such as landslides. These phenomena are causing significant damage to the land and the environment, coupled sometimes with a general loss of soil layers that are rich in organic matter and nutrients fundamental for agricultural activities.

A significant part of the damage induced by slope instabilities is the delivery of the materials mobilized from a landslide triggering zone, which constitute the runout part of a slope failure. Runout also influences the degree of vulnerability and risk of infrastructures and buildings which are located downslope of the triggering area.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to provide insights about the most recent and innovative methodologies and models to measure or predict the runout of a landslide, including also the integration of runout features on the estimation of susceptibility, hazard and risk scenarios towards landslides.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Techniques and methodologies for measuring the runout of sediments mobilized by a landslide;
  • Models for the estimation of landslide runout at different scales;
  • Impact of landslide runout on the estimation of landslides hazard, vulnerability and risk;
  • Methodologies for creating integrated models and maps between the prediction of landslide triggering zones and of runout features.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Massimiliano Bordoni
Dr. Stella Maris Moreiras
Dr. Roberto J. Marin
Guest Editors

Dr. Alessia Giarola
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • landslides
  • runout
  • landslides hazard
  • landslides risk
  • remote sensing

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 19341 KiB  
Article
Landslide at the River’s Edge: Alum Bluff, Apalachicola River, Florida
by Joann Mossa and Yin-Hsuen Chen
Geosciences 2025, 15(4), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040130 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 584
Abstract
When rivers impinge on the steep bluffs of valley walls, dynamic changes stem from a combination of fluvial and mass wasting processes. This study identifies the geomorphic changes, drivers, and timing of a landslide adjacent to the Apalachicola River at Alum Bluff, the [...] Read more.
When rivers impinge on the steep bluffs of valley walls, dynamic changes stem from a combination of fluvial and mass wasting processes. This study identifies the geomorphic changes, drivers, and timing of a landslide adjacent to the Apalachicola River at Alum Bluff, the tallest natural geological exposure in Florida at ~40 m, comprising horizontal sediments of mixed lithology. We used hydrographic surveys from 1960 and 2010, two sets of LiDAR from 2007 and 2018, historical aerial, drone, and ground photography, and satellite imagery to interpret changes at this bluff and river bottom. Evidence of slope failure includes a recessed upper section with concave scarps and debris fans in the lower section with subaqueous features including two occlusions and a small island exposed from the channel bottom at lower water levels. Aerial photos and satellite images indicate that the failure occurred in at least two phases in early 2013 and 2015. The loss in volume in the 11-year interval, dominantly from the upper portion of the bluff, was ~72,750 m3 and was offset by gains of ~14,760 m3 at the lower portion of the bluff, suggesting that nearly 80% of the material traveled into the river, causing changes in riverbed morphology from the runout. Despite being along a cutbank and next to the scour pool of a large meandering river, this failure was not driven by floods and the associated lateral erosion, but instead by rainfall in noncohesive sediments at the upper portion of the bluff. This medium-magnitude landslide is now the second documented landslide in Florida. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances)
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22 pages, 18807 KiB  
Article
Development of a New Method for Debris Flow Runout Assessment in 0-Order Catchments: A Case Study of the Otoishi River Basin
by Ahmad Qasim Akbar, Yasuhiro Mitani, Ryunosuke Nakanishi, Hiroyuki Honda and Hisatoshi Taniguchi
Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020041 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 907
Abstract
Debris flows are rapid, destructive landslides that pose significant risks in mountainous regions. This study presents a novel algorithm to simulate debris flow dynamics, focusing on sediment transport from 0-order basins to depositional zones. The algorithm integrates the D8 flow direction method with [...] Read more.
Debris flows are rapid, destructive landslides that pose significant risks in mountainous regions. This study presents a novel algorithm to simulate debris flow dynamics, focusing on sediment transport from 0-order basins to depositional zones. The algorithm integrates the D8 flow direction method with an adjustable friction coefficient to enhance the accuracy of debris flow trajectory and deposition modeling. Its performance was evaluated on three real-world cases in the Otoishi River basin, affected by rainfall-induced debris flows in July 2017, and the Aso Bridge landslide triggered by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. By utilizing diverse friction coefficients, the study effectively captured variations in debris flow behavior, transitioning from fluid-like to more viscous states. Simulation results demonstrated a precision of 88.9% in predicting debris flow paths and deposition areas, emphasizing the pivotal role of the friction coefficient in regulating mass movement dynamics. Additionally, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations enhanced the identification of critical slip surfaces within 0-order basins, increasing the accuracy of debris flow source detection. This research offers valuable insights into debris flow hazards and risk mitigation strategies. The algorithm’s proven effectiveness in simulating real-world scenarios highlights its potential for integration into disaster risk assessment and prevention frameworks. By providing a reliable tool for hazard identification and prediction, this study supports proactive disaster management and aligns with the goals of sustainable development in regions prone to debris flow disasters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances)
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27 pages, 22748 KiB  
Article
A Methodologic Approach to Study Large and Complex Landslides: An Application in Central Apennines
by Massimo Mangifesta, Domenico Aringoli, Gilberto Pambianchi, Leonardo Maria Giannini, Gianni Scalella and Nicola Sciarra
Geosciences 2024, 14(10), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14100272 - 15 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1369
Abstract
The evaluation of landslide hazards in seismic areas is based on a deterministic analysis, which is unable to account for various uncertainties in the analysis process. This paper focuses on the probabilistic local seismic hazard analysis and extends the results to the landslide [...] Read more.
The evaluation of landslide hazards in seismic areas is based on a deterministic analysis, which is unable to account for various uncertainties in the analysis process. This paper focuses on the probabilistic local seismic hazard analysis and extends the results to the landslide hazard analysis to consider both the uncertainties of the ground deformations and the strengths. The work studies the areas between Nibbiano and Sant’Erasmo hamlets in the Camerino municipality located in central Italy, where all constructions present evidence of damage caused by both the seismic sequence of 2016–2017 and the slope instability. An exhaustive geological and geophysical investigation has clarified the geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological characteristics of the area, enabling a new characterization of material stress-strain behaviour. The study reveals that the low stiffness of the debris covers, and their fair degree of permeability contribute to potential instability scenarios triggered by both intense rainfall and the effects of strong earthquakes. The goal was to utilize the results to support local urban planning because in-depth knowledge of the possible evolutionary scenarios of the slopes is fundamental to the management of the degree of danger for structures, especially for people. Moreover, it was shown once again how a multi-source approach, with different investigation techniques, cannot be ignored for the study of the evolution of complex landslides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances)
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Review

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21 pages, 3328 KiB  
Review
Review and Inventory of Pedological and Stratigraphical Knowledge for Investigating Shallow Landslides: A Case Study of the Cervinara Area (Central Campanian Apennines, Southern Italy)
by Antonella Ermice, Carla Buffardi, Rossana Marzaioli, Marco Vigliotti and Daniela Ruberti
Geosciences 2025, 15(4), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040151 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 79
Abstract
Landslides are one of the most serious problems affecting large parts of the world. There are two approaches that are used to study the organization of these land cover features: firstly, an approach utilizing lithostratigraphic tools, where soils are described and interpreted in [...] Read more.
Landslides are one of the most serious problems affecting large parts of the world. There are two approaches that are used to study the organization of these land cover features: firstly, an approach utilizing lithostratigraphic tools, where soils are described and interpreted in accordance with specific geological/lithological patterns, and, secondly, through pedological instruments, where the pedogenetic patterns are identified, and the sequences are identified via standardized criteria and organized according to modern classification systems. In the present review, a comparison between the two above approaches is outlined, using the Campania Apennine reliefs (Southern Italy) as the reference environment because they are periodically and dramatically affected by mass movements mainly associated with rainfall events. These reliefs are strongly influenced by the products emitted by the Phlegraean Fields and the Somma–Vesuvius volcanoes. These products affect surface structures either through their direct alteration, with the formation of pedogenized products, or through their reworking, mainly stimulated by rainfall events, which is also responsible for the movement of pedogenized materials along the slopes. This results in complex surface architectures, knowledge of which is a crucial step in the assessment of robust monitoring systems. This review covers the Cervinara area, located in the central portion of the Campania Apennines, which was overwhelmed by dramatic landslide events in 1999. Our aims were to critically analyze the impact and the potential of lithostratigraphic and pedological approaches in studying the soils of the area in question and to provide an inventory of the scientific papers in which, with different aims, descriptions and interpretations of the local soil covers are reported. We examined and selected the national and international literature available in major scientific online databases, and these were split into groups on the basis of citations and type of approach. The reviewed literature showed that the stratigraphic approach was by far the most preferred, although significant potential was offered by pedological tools in this field of investigation. A high number of hydraulic and geotechnical articles was also found, in comparison to geological and pedological papers, which confirmed the significant levels of interest in the land cover type in question, specifically regarding landslide processes, and in their role in risk mitigation practices. On the whole, the latter approach has been proven to offer a greater exploration potential through the use of rigorous classification systems and, thus, the possibility of identifying and correlating soil properties over large areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances)
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16 pages, 5173 KiB  
Review
Tools for Predicting Long Runout Landslides
by Paul Santi, Russell Lockyear, Jon McKenna, Caroline Scheevel and Cory Wallace
Geosciences 2025, 15(2), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15020057 - 8 Feb 2025
Viewed by 597
Abstract
One of the most important issues in landslide hazard management is predicting the runout of a landslide event. Current technology and modeling help to analyze landslides in terms of overall stability, triggers, and sensitivity to environmental changes, but the length of the runout [...] Read more.
One of the most important issues in landslide hazard management is predicting the runout of a landslide event. Current technology and modeling help to analyze landslides in terms of overall stability, triggers, and sensitivity to environmental changes, but the length of the runout remains a difficult variable to predict. In this study, we review how runout is measured and conclude that the landslide length divided by the square root of the landslide area is a value that scales well and also is not biased by the overall topographic slope. The more common measurement of runout, i.e., landslide height divided by length, is biased by topography, yet correlates well to specific predictive parameters. Next, we explore tools to predict landslide runout. Regional inventories of landslides can establish typical runout ranges as a function of the landslide area. The soil density can be used predict contractive behavior and flow-like responses in long runout landslides. Topographic curvature also correlates to runout, with concave slopes that accumulate moisture being more likely to generate long runout events. Sites with previous landslide movement are likely to travel farther upon reactivation, as are landslide sites close to water sources and those with larger upslope contributing areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landslides Runout: Recent Perspectives and Advances)
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