Investigating and Managing Shallow Landslides in Switzerland

Abstract

During the past 40 years, shallow landslides triggered by intensive rain fall caused damage costs of >520 million Euros in Switzerland. These landslides have been mainly associated with relatively few storm events of extreme intensity. The Swiss Federal Office of the Environment, together with partners from cantons, research institutes and private companies, systematically investigated such events with regard to the occurrence and properties of shallow landslides. Comprehensive inventories of shallow landslides were collected, e.g. in the regions of Sachseln (1997), Appenzell (2002) and Emmental (2002 and 2005), resulting in a national data base that is currently being developed. This data base of observed shallow landslides will be a key-tool for future risk management in Switzerland, e.g. as a basis to support the generation of hazard maps and early warning systems. Risk management is also promoted by ongoing focused research on the triggering of shallow landslides, which is carried out within the ETH Competence Centre Environment and Sustainability (CCES).