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Development of Landslide Risk Assessment Technology along Transport Arteries in Viet Nam

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Finished

Development of Landslide Risk Assessment Technology along Transport Arteries in Viet Nam

Reducing Landslide Disasters that Block Sustainable Development across the Country

Principal Investigator

- Executive Director, Dr.
  SASSA Kyoji
  International Consortium on Landslides (ICL)

ODA Recipient Country

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Research Institutions in Japan

International Consortium on Landslides (ICL) / Tohoku Gakuin University (TGU) / Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI)

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Institute of Transport Science and Technology (ITST)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2011

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Finding a way to reduce landslide disasters is essential for national development
Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and other countries in the mountainous areas of the Greater Mekong Subregion are subject to frequent landslide disasters caused by factors such as weak ground and heavy rain. Landslide disasters damage roads and other infrastructure, and are a pressing issue for national development plans. This project is attempting to develop technology for predicting landslide disasters, identify slopes with a landslide risk, assess hazard risks, and develop early warning systems, thereby contributing to sustainable development in Vietnam.

Formation of a disaster research network and monitoring of landslide disasters
In the mountainous area between north and south Vietnam, researchers have conducted landslide surveys along arterial roads and the national railway network to identify slopes for installation of monitoring instruments, procured the instruments and prepared for installation. A new high-stress landslide ring-shear simulator capable of simulating initiation and motion of large-scale landslides with a depth of 100m has already been successfully developed. In 2012-2013, seven engineers from Vietnam were invited and accepted to master and doctor courses in Japan, and we have produced landslide teaching materials for training purposes. In 2012, a landslide network was established, with members being seven institutions in Southeast Asia. The project aims to develop landslide risk assessment technology, and to extend the landslide research network throughout the mountainous areas of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Photo gallery

Damage to residences from landslides in Son La, the capital of Son La Province in Vietnam

In Vietnam and other countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, ensuring safety from damage to arterial roads and railways caused by landslides is a basic condition for sustainable development. For this reason, Japanese scientific and technical assistance is needed.