Slope and Tunnel Instability Under Climate and Engineering Stresses: Landslides, Debris Flows and Water Conservation

Dear Colleagues,

Major engineering projects—including hydropower dams, transportation corridors, mining operations and tunnel construction—profoundly alter local hydrological regimes and slope stability. When combined with natural climate variability (e.g., extreme rainfall, permafrost degradation in cold high‑altitude regions), these anthropogenic disturbances frequently trigger catastrophic landslides and debris flows. This Special Issue focuses on failure mechanisms and water‑related processes along both engineered slopes (e.g., waste dumps, subgrades, high fills, dam slopes) and tunnel systems (e.g., portal slopes, tunnel‑induced drainage changes, spoil disposal areas). While theoretical advances are welcome, we particularly encourage contributions with practical engineering value, including field case studies from real construction and operational projects. Numerical modeling (e.g., FEM, DEM, SPH and hybrid data‑driven approaches) and soil–water conservation measures are also invited. Beyond the focal themes of climate‑driven hazards and cold‑region engineering, the Issue remains open to other relevant topics. The goal is to bridge cutting‑edge research and on‑ground practice, providing actionable solutions for landslide and debris flow risk reduction, erosion control and sustainable watershed management.

Dr. Shunchao Qi
Guest Editor

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