Geotechnics for Hazard Mitigation, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Among all the geological disasters (GDs), collapses, landslides, and debris flow are the most serious. The prediction of geological disasters is the most effective means to reduce casualties and property losses. However, early identification and warning technology for collapses have been difficult to achieve effectively. Therefore, the scope of this research topic is about the quantitative identification of dangerous rock, the risk assessment of landslide instability precursors, the quantitative model of a movable solid source in a debris flow source area, the application of research on new monitoring and early warning technology systems, and the corresponding control and reinforcement measures. In addition, this Topic also welcomes papers of remote sensing technologies (e.g., InSAR, LiDAR, and multispectral/hyperspectral imagery) in early detection of precursory deformation, large-scale hazard mapping, and real-time monitoring of landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows. Submissions exploring how advanced remote sensing approaches can effectively bridge field-scale observations and regional risk assessment are particularly encouraged. We cordially invite relevant scholars to submit their research findings to the article collection of this Topic, which will hopefully improve the early warning technology of GDs and serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and the discovery of new innovations. The subtopics include but are not limited to the following:

• Rock dynamics and failure precursor of rock collapse.
• Quantitative dynamic damage identification of unstable rock or rock landslides.
• Analysis of the causative mechanism and disaster-causing factors of GDs.
• Risk and stability assessment method for GDs.
• Quantitative model of movable solid source in debris flow source area.
• Application research of new monitoring technology for GDs and establishment of the early warning index system.
• The corresponding control and reinforcement measures for GDs.

Prof. Dr. Mowen Xie
Dr. Yan Du
Prof. Dr. Yujing Jiang
Prof. Dr. Bo Li
Dr. Xuepeng Zhang
Dr. Santos D. Chicas
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.5	2011	16 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
GeoHazards geohazards	1.6	2.2	2020	20.1 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Geosciences geosciences	2.1	5.1	2011	23.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information ijgi	2.8	7.2	2012	33.1 Days	CHF 1900	Submit
Remote Sensing remotesensing	4.1	8.6	2009	24.3 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Applied Sciences Geosciences IJGI Remote Sensing GeoHazards

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29 pages, 2595 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Modal Dynamic Feature Fusion for Visible-Infrared Debris Flow Segmentation

by Mingzhi Zhang, Hongyong Yuan, Dongri Song, Chun Bao, Rui Li and Zhikun Hu

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2026, 15(5), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi15050209 - 11 May 2026

Viewed by 208

Abstract

Gully type debris flows are sudden, highly destructive geological hazards requiring accurate, real-time monitoring for effective early warning. However, single-modal visual monitoring is sensitive to complex environments, while existing multi-modal fusion approaches rely on static strategies, limiting adaptability and modal complementarity. Blurred boundary [...] Read more.

Gully type debris flows are sudden, highly destructive geological hazards requiring accurate, real-time monitoring for effective early warning. However, single-modal visual monitoring is sensitive to complex environments, while existing multi-modal fusion approaches rely on static strategies, limiting adaptability and modal complementarity. Blurred boundary segmentation, class imbalance, and real-time deployment challenges also remain unaddressed. To overcome these issues, this study proposes a cross-modal dynamic feature fusion framework integrating visible and infrared imagery, consisting of a shared backbone for multi-scale feature extraction, a dynamic feature aggregation module for adaptive heterogeneous fusion, a lightweight context-aware semantic segmentation network, and a composite loss function to enhance boundary delineation and mitigate class imbalance. Validated on a self-constructed dual-modal debris flow dataset and public benchmarks, the method achieves an mIoU of 75.6%, outperforming state-of-the-art methods by 3.1%. It meets real-time monitoring requirements and exhibits strong generalization, providing a practical solution for debris flow monitoring with great potential for disaster early warning deployment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Geotechnics for Hazard Mitigation, 2nd Edition)

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12 pages, 3287 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on Crack Propagation and Dynamic Characteristic Evolution of Cantilevered Unstable Rock Masses Based on XFEM

by Zhixiang Wu, Guobao Zhang, Mowen Xie, Jiabin Zhang, Xiaoliang Cheng, Yan Du, Zheng He and Peng Ge

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052382 - 28 Feb 2026

Viewed by 414

Abstract

Cantilevered unstable rock masses constitute a prevalent geological hazard, with their stability intrinsically governed by the depth of trailing edge cracks. Traditional stability assessment methods, which largely rely on static calculations or displacement monitoring, often suffer from poor timeliness and insufficient early warning [...] Read more.

Cantilevered unstable rock masses constitute a prevalent geological hazard, with their stability intrinsically governed by the depth of trailing edge cracks. Traditional stability assessment methods, which largely rely on static calculations or displacement monitoring, often suffer from poor timeliness and insufficient early warning capabilities. To address these limitations, this study employs the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) to simulate the natural crack propagation trajectory and investigate the associated dynamic response characteristics under loading. The simulation results demonstrate that XFEM effectively captures the natural “vertical-to-oblique” fracture morphology, overcoming the limitations of pre-defined crack models. A critical correlation is established between crack evolution and natural frequency: the first-order natural frequency exhibits a staged decline, characterized by a precipitous drop of approximately 7 Hz during the late stage of fracture development (80–97% depth). Consequently, a “crack evolution–frequency response” model is proposed. This model confirms that natural frequency is a significantly more sensitive indicator of internal damage than displacement, providing a novel theoretical foundation and technical pathway for the early identification and dynamic evaluation of rock mass stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Geotechnics for Hazard Mitigation, 2nd Edition)

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26 pages, 6985 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Evolution of Time–Frequency Dynamic Parameters During the Instability of Falling-Type Unstable Rock Masses: An Experimental Study

by Guang Lu, Mowen Xie, Chen Chen and Yan Du

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031402 - 29 Jan 2026

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Abstract

Improving the accuracy of stable state identification and collapse early warning for unstable rock masses is an urgent challenge in slope engineering. In this study, a simplified dynamic model of falling-type unstable rock masses was established, and the dynamic response characteristics of unstable [...] Read more.

Improving the accuracy of stable state identification and collapse early warning for unstable rock masses is an urgent challenge in slope engineering. In this study, a simplified dynamic model of falling-type unstable rock masses was established, and the dynamic response characteristics of unstable rock masses under different constraint conditions were investigated by combining modal analysis. Finally, physical model tests were carried out to explore the evolution of relevant time-domain and frequency-domain dynamic characteristic parameters during the entire process of falling-type unstable rock masses on slopes, ranging from a stable state, through the propagation of dominant structural planes, to final collapse. The results show that (1) the dominant frequency of the rock mass is independent of the magnitude and direction of excitation forces; (2) the coefficient of variation and waveform factor undergo significant changes during the critical failure stage; and (3) the acceleration amplitude ratio and natural frequency can synergistically and sensitively trace the progression of fracture development within the rock mass. An identification method for the stability stages of typical falling-type unstable rock masses was proposed, which integrates four time–frequency dynamic indicators. The stability state of unstable rock masses was divided into three phases: stable, fundamentally stable, and critical instability. This work provides a valuable reference for instability monitoring of falling-type unstable rock masses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Geotechnics for Hazard Mitigation, 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 6814 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Urban Land Subsidence Analyzed Through Time-Series InSAR Coupled with Refined Risk Modeling: A Wuhan Case Study

by Lv Zhou, Liqi Liang, Quanyu Chen, Haotian He, Hongming Li, Jie Qin, Fei Yang, Xinyi Li and Jie Bai

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2025, 14(9), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi14090320 - 22 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Due to extensive soft soil and high human activities, Wuhan is a hotspot for land subsidence. This study used the time-series InSAR to calculate the spatial and temporal distribution map of subsidence in Wuhan and analyze the causes of subsidence. An improved fuzzy [...] Read more.

Due to extensive soft soil and high human activities, Wuhan is a hotspot for land subsidence. This study used the time-series InSAR to calculate the spatial and temporal distribution map of subsidence in Wuhan and analyze the causes of subsidence. An improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (GD-FAHP) was proposed and integrated with the Entropy Weight Method (EWM) to assess the hazard and vulnerability of land subsidence using multiple evaluation factors, thereby deriving the spatial distribution characteristics of subsidence risk in Wuhan. Results indicated the following: (1) Maximum subsidence rates reached −49 mm/a, with the most severe deformation localized in Hongshan District, exhibiting a cumulative displacement of −135 mm. Comparative validation between InSAR results and leveling was conducted, demonstrating the reliability of InSAR monitoring. (2) Areas with frequent urban construction largely coincided with subsidence locations. In addition, the analysis indicated that rainfall and hydrogeological conditions were also correlated with land subsidence. (3) The proposed risk assessment model effectively identified high-risk areas concentrated in central urban zones, particularly the Hongshan and Wuchang Districts. This research establishes a methodological framework for urban hazard mitigation and provides actionable insights for subsidence risk reduction strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Geotechnics for Hazard Mitigation, 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 4185 KB  

Open AccessArticle

The Reactivated Residual Strength: Laboratory Tests and Practical Considerations

by Paolo Carrubba

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 7976; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15147976 - 17 Jul 2025

Viewed by 899

Abstract

As is already known, some currently stable landslides may have been activated in the past along a pre-existing sliding surface and reached the residual strength there, as a consequence of high-cumulative displacements. After a fairly long period of quiescence, these landslides can reactivate [...] Read more.

As is already known, some currently stable landslides may have been activated in the past along a pre-existing sliding surface and reached the residual strength there, as a consequence of high-cumulative displacements. After a fairly long period of quiescence, these landslides can reactivate due to a temporary increase in destabilising forces capable of mobilising the residual strength along the same sliding surface again. Some recent studies have suggested that, under certain conditions, the strength mobilised upon reactivation may slightly exceed the residual value and then decay towards the latter as the displacement progresses. Regarding this matter, many previous studies have hypothesised that some geotechnical variables could affect the recovered strength more significantly: the length of the ageing time, the vertical stress, the stress history, and the speed with which the reactivation occurs. The aim of this research is to confirm whether such recovery of strength upon reactivation is possible and which geotechnical parameters have the greatest influence on the process. To this end, laboratory tests were carried out with the Bromhead ring shear apparatus on normally consolidated saturated samples of both natural soils and clays provided by industry (bentonite and kaolin). The coupling effect of the ageing time, the vertical stress, and the reactivation speed on the mobilised strength upon reactivation were investigated, starting from a pre-existing residual state of these samples. Within the limits of this research, the results seem to confirm that all three geotechnical variables are influential, with a greater impact on the reactivation speed and, subordinately, on the ageing time for long quiescence periods. Therefore, it is concluded that a quiescent landslide could show a reactivated strength slightly higher than the residual value if the destabilising action could arise with a certain rapidity. Conversely, if the destabilising action occurs very slowly, the mobilised strength could correspond to the residual value. The experimental results of this research may find some application in the design of strengthening works for a stable quiescent landslide that could experience a fairly rapid increase in destabilising actions, such as in the case of seismic stress, morphological modification of the slope, or a rising water table. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Geotechnics for Hazard Mitigation, 2nd Edition)

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