Anthropogenically induced landslides – A challenge for railway infrastructure in mountainous regions

Abstract

Landslides that affected the network of the Austrian Federal Railways between 2005 and 2015 were compiled in a landslide inventory, which was statistically evaluated. The analysis of 106 events clearly shows that anthropogenically induced landslides (71,7%) outweigh the naturally induced ones (28,3%). Human activities in the context of transport infrastructure construction constitute more than the half of all landslide causes. Therefore special attention has been paid to landslides, which were caused by road, highway and railway construction. Most problems in forest road and highway construction are based on fillslope and drainage construction. However, the railway‘s lower potential maximum gradient requires deeper cutslopes. About 47,2% of all landslides are grounded in the subgrade itself and thus cannot be detected by quantitative landslide susceptibility modelling. In order to prevent these road- and rail-related landslides two approaches are suitable. On existing traffic infrastructures (main rail lines) only detailed geomorphic and hydrogeological mapping of the construction itself and its surrounding is expedient for early recognition of potential landslide areas. By the inclusion of its own experts in the legal approval procedure for new construction projects the rail operator can ensure, that geological and geomorphic project features will be taken seriously by the project engineers.