A process-oriented approach for identifying potential landslides considering time-dependent behaviors beyond geomorphological features

Abstract

Geomorphological features are commonly used to identify potential landslides. Nevertheless, overemphasis on these features could lead to misjudgment. This research proposes a process-oriented approach for potential landslide identification that considers time-dependent behaviors. The method integrates comprehensive remote sensing and geological analysis to qualitatively assess slope stability, and employs numerical analysis to quantitatively calculate aging stability. Specifically, a time-dependent stability calculation method for anticlinal slopes is developed and implemented in discrete element software, incorporating time-dependent mechanical and strength reduction calculations. By considering the time-dependent evolution of slopes, this method highlights the importance of both geomorphological features and time-dependent behaviors in landslide identification. This method has been applied to the Jiarishan slope (JRS) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a case study. The results show that the JRS, despite having landslide geomorphology, is a stable slope, highlighting the risk of misjudgment when relying solely on geomorphological features. This work provides insights into the geomorphological characterization and evolution history of the JRS and offers valuable guidance for studying slopes with similar landslide geomorphology. Furthermore, the process-oriented method incorporating time-dependent evolution provides a means to evaluate potential landslides, reducing misjudgment due to excessive reliance on geomorphological features.