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Abstract
Slope stability is determined by pre-conditioning and triggering factors. The evaluation of the stability by scientific criteria provides crucial input into land-use planning and development. This work aimed to evaluate the slope stability of “Las Cabras” hill (Duran, Ecuador) through geological and geotechnical analysis and a susceptibility assessment that allowed the definition of areas potentially susceptible to landslide and detachment for land planning recommendations. The methodology included (i) analysis of background information about the study area; (ii) fieldwork, sampling and laboratory tests; (iii) assessment of susceptibility to landslides and detachment through a theoretical–practical evaluation (using suggestions by various authors); (iv) a safety factor assessment employing the simplified Bishop method; and (v) analysis of the relationship between susceptibility and stability. Sixteen geomechanical stations were evaluated. Of these, seven stations are characterised as category III (medium susceptibility), six stations as category IV (high susceptibility) and three stations as category V (very high susceptibility). According to the susceptibility zoning map, 58.09% of the total area (36.36 Ha) is in the high to very high susceptibility category. The stability analysis based on 16 critical profiles shows that three of these profiles have safety factor values of less than one (0.86, 0.82 and 0.76, respectively), and two profiles have values close to one (1.02 and 1.00). The northern area is conditioned mainly by a vertical slope with an outcrop of fractured and weathered sandstones, thereby favouring rockfall. The landslide vulnerability in the case of the southern zone is principally conditioned by the fact that the slope and dip are parallel. The described characterisation and susceptibility analysis provide a basis for security measures and territorial planning.
Highlights
A landslide is the movement of a mass of rock, debris or soil down a slope under the influence of gravity [1,2]
Our work aimed to evaluate the slope stability of “Las Cabras” hill (Duran, Ecuador) through geological and geotechnical analysis and a susceptibility assessment that allowed the definition of areas potentially susceptible to landslide and detachment for land planning recommendations
The diagnosis of the current situation regarding the stability of “Las Cabras” hill was established through a geological–geomechanical study that included evaluating stability and susceptibility to landslide and detachment and the calculation of safety factor
Summary
A landslide is the movement of a mass of rock, debris or soil down a slope under the influence of gravity [1,2] They are considered serious natural geological hazards in many areas of the world [3,4,5]. As the most common natural geological hazard in mountainous areas, landslides often cause significant economic loss and human casualties [16,17]. For this reason, the evaluation of these phenomena has been a primary scientific duty in order to establish the zoning of the analysed territory and to identify the main objects exposed to risk [18,19]. Quantitative and empirical approaches have been proposed in the scientific literature to assess hazards and risks arising from landslides, rockfalls or slope instability [23,24,25,26,27,28]
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