Hazard Mitigation Research Articles

Regional assessment of overwash processes in a retrograding sand barrier (Paraíba do Sul River Deltaic Complex, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Storm events are the primary mechanisms for generating overwash along the shoreline. This process occurs when wave runup exceeds the elevation of sandy features, often forming washover deposits. In retrograding barriers, overwash is the main driver of landward migration. Extreme wave energy events can lead to rapid changes in the morphology of these environments. On urbanized coastlines, storm impacts can be catastrophic and result in high reconstruction costs. Understanding the characteristics of storm events and the local morphological characteristics of these sandy features is crucial for risk assessments, hazard mitigation, and coastal area adaptations in the scenario of increasing storm events. The main objective of this study is to analyze the role of overwash processes in the retrogradation of the Quissamã barrier, located in the southern sector of the Paraíba do Sul River Delta Complex (PSRDC), on the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Using data from the global Wave Watch III model, sea warnings issued by the Brazilian Navy, atmospheric pressure charts, and astronomical tides, we identified storm events and mapped the washover fans formed after specific storm events. The washover fans were identified using PlanetScope images. The identified storm events were characterized by waves from the SE-S directions with high peak periods, and mostly occurred during spring tides or transitioning to neap tides. Additionally, the atmospheric pattern for most events was associated with the migration of cold fronts from high to low latitudes, leading to the development of extratropical cyclones. The geometry of the barrier also proved to be an essential morphological pattern. Considering the relative sea level along part of the Brazilian coast has been decreasing over the last 5500 years, storm events and associated processes are crucial for the retrogradation of barriers, maintaining the retrogradational characteristics of this coastal barrier.

Online state estimation in water distribution systems via Extended Kalman Filtering

Operators of water distribution systems (WDSs) need continuous and timely information on pressures and flows to ensure smooth operation and respond quickly to unexpected events. While hydraulic models provide reasonable estimates of pressures and flows in WDSs, updating model predictions with real-time sensor data provides clearer insights into true system behavior and enables more effective real-time response. Despite the growing prevalence of distributed sensing within WDSs, standard hydraulic modeling software like EPANET do not support synchronous data assimilation. This study presents a new method for state estimation in WDSs that combines a fully physically-based model of WDS hydraulics with an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to estimate system flows and heads based on sparse sensor measurements. To perform state estimation via EKF, a state-space model of the hydraulic system is first formulated based on the 1-D Saint-Venant equations of conservation of mass and momentum. Results demonstrate that the proposed model closely matches steady-state extended-period models simulated using EPANET. Next, through a holdout analysis it is found that fusing sensor data with EKF produces flow and head estimates that closely match ground truth flows and heads at unmonitored locations, indicating that state estimation successfully infers internal hydraulic states from sparse sensor measurements. These findings pave the way towards real-time operational models of WDSs that will enable online detection and mitigation of hazards like pipe leaks, main bursts, and hydraulic transients.

Land surface response to groundwater drawdown and recovery in Taiyuan city, Northern China, analyzed with a long-term elevation change measurements from leveling and multi-sensor InSAR

In recent years, a comprehensive program of groundwater management was adopted in Taiyuan city, Northern China, with the aim to prevent the lowering of groundwater level and manage land subsidence due to excessive groundwater pumping in the past decades. Groundwater recovery has been observed in this city following the termination of groundwater pumping. While the link between land subsidence and groundwater pumping is well documented, how the land surface responds to the recovery of groundwater has not been studied in detail. In this study, we analyzed the leveling data from 1956 to 2000 to investigate changes in ground elevation in response to groundwater drawdown prior to the termination of groundwater pumping and combined them with InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) displacement data during 2003–2020 to evaluate the effect of groundwater recharge after the termination of groundwater pumping. A method was proposed to merge InSAR time series of displacement derived from multiple satellites (ENVISAT, COSMO-SkyMed, TerraSAR-X, and Sentinel-1) to achieve a consistent, long-term continuous deformation. We found that previous groundwater depression cones in Taiyuan (Xizhang, Wanbailin, Wujiabao, and Xiayuan) have turned into groundwater recovery and the corresponding subsidence centers have switched to land uplift. The subsidence center of Xizhang, north of Taiyuan city, experienced a total subsidence of 749 mm by Aug 2003; it then turned into uplift with an amount of rebound of 9.2 % of previous subsidence by the end of 2020. In central area of Taiyuan, the cumulated subsidence is 1127 mm in Wanbailin, 1817 mm in Xiayuan, and 3343 mm in Wujiabao. Beginning in Aug 2010, they all turned into land uplift, with a rebound of 7.9 %, 4.8 % and 3.6 % of the previous subsidence in each center, respectively. An analysis of the correlation between groundwater level and ground displacement suggests that the ground uplift is related to the poro-elastic rebound mechanism in the porous aquifer system, which is caused by the rise in pore pressure with groundwater recovery, and the amount of subsidence/uplift is controlled by the stratigraphic properties. The adverse impacts on the built environment due to the rising groundwater level were discussed. The findings improve our understanding of anthropogenic ground deformation in complex urban aquifers influenced by groundwater pumping and recharge and provides essential information that can contribute to future groundwater management and groundwater-related hazard mitigation over the Taiyuan city.

Weather radar utility in hazard detection and response.

Publicly accessible weather radar data have significant capabilities for meteorological measurements and predictions and, further, have the potential to measure nonmeteorological events that include smoke, ash, and debris plumes as well as explosions. The ability to identify and track nonmeteorological events can be of assistance in emergency response, hazard mitigation, and related activities in locations where radar coverage both exists and is recorded and accessible to the user. In this study, events from multiple locations in the United States that are reported in news outlets are assessed using a manual inspection process of Level 2 weather radar data to identify anthropogenic and nonbiological returns. Explosive events are also identified, and a large high-altitude debris cloud from the intentional destruction of the SpaceX Starship is tracked across a wide area. Finally, future efforts using a machine learning model are discussed as a means of automating the process and potentially enabling near-real-time nonmeteorological event identification in the same areas where the data are accessible. Using weather radar data can be a valuable new tool for Department of Defense systems to aid in military awareness, and for interagency emergency response and forensic mission experts to consider national weather service data in their mission profiles. Radar data can be effective in detecting several common types of emergencies and inform and aid response personnel.

Interorganizational Collaboration for the Implementation of Hazard Mitigation Strategies

Interorganizational Collaboration for the Implementation of Hazard Mitigation Strategies

Source parameters and aftershock pattern of the October 7, 2021, M5.9 Harnai earthquake, Pakistan

On October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the Harnai (Baluchistan) region of Pakistan, causing several fatalities and injuries within the epicentral area. First-order tectonic deformation in this region is caused by the convergence of the Indian Plate with respect to the Eurasian Plate. The Katwaz Block hinders the motion of the Indian Plate, resulting in the formation of strike-slip faults. In this study, the P-wave first-motion polarity technique was used to determine the mainshock faulting style. Cyclic scanning of the polarity solutions was applied to determine the most suitable focal mechanism solution among the available solutions generated by the FOCMEC (focal mechanism) software. The nodal planes correspond to different faulting styles (i.e., thrust and strike-slip faulting). A nodal plane oriented in the NW-SE direction corresponded to a strike-slip mechanism, which was considered to be the fault plane. Tectonically, this earthquake was associated with the Harnai-Karahi strike-slip fault zone owing to the fault strike and direction of slip. The apparent stress drop, fault length, and moment magnitude of the Harnai earthquake were 35.4 bar, 6.1 km, and 5.9, respectively. A lower b-value for the Gutenberg-Richter law was observed prior to the earthquake. Higher α- than b-values (α >b) indicate that this earthquake was governed by large events as opposed to small-magnitude events. The Harnai sequence had a decay exponent close to unity, lasted for 145 days, and produced few aftershocks. The study will help the future hazard mitigation in the region.

Ocean Wave Directional Distribution from GPS Buoy Observations off the West Coast of Ireland: Assessment of a Wavelet-Based Method

Abstract Knowledge of the directional distribution of a wave field is crucial for a better understanding of complex air–sea interactions. However, the dynamic and unpredictable nature of ocean waves, combined with the limitations of existing measurement technologies and analysis techniques, makes it difficult to obtain precise directional information, leading to a poor understanding of this important quantity. This study investigates the potential use of a wavelet-based method applied to GPS buoy observations as an alternative approach to the conventional methods for estimating the directional distribution of ocean waves. The results indicate that the wavelet-based estimations are consistently good when compared to the framework of widely used parameterizations for the directional distribution. The wavelet-based method presents advantages in comparison with the conventional methods, including being purely data-driven and not requiring any assumptions about the shape of the distribution. In addition, it was found that the wave directional distribution is narrower at the spectral peak and broadens asymmetrically at higher and lower scales, particularly sharply for frequencies below the peak. The directional spreading appears to be independent of the wave age across the entire range of frequencies, implying that the angular width of the directional spectrum is primarily controlled by nonlinear wave–wave interactions rather than by wind forcing. These results support the use of the wavelet-based method as a practical alternative for the estimation of the wave directional distribution. In addition, this study highlights the need for continued innovation in the field of ocean wave measuring technologies and analysis techniques to improve our understanding of air–sea interactions. Significance Statement This study presents a wavelet-based technique for obtaining the directional distribution of ocean waves applied to GPS buoy. This method serves as an alternative to conventional methods and is relatively easy to implement, making it a practical option for researchers and engineers. The study was conducted in a highly energetic environment characterized by high wind speeds and large waves, providing a valuable dataset for understanding the dynamics of marine environment in extreme conditions. This research has implications for improving our understanding of directional characteristics of ocean waves, which is crucial for navigation, offshore engineering, weather forecasting, and coastal hazard mitigation. This study also highlights the challenges associated with understanding wave directionality and emphasizes a need for further observations.

Crop type classification, trends, and patterns of central California agricultural fields from 2005 to 2020

AbstractCalifornia produces many key agricultural products in the United States. Current geospatial agricultural datasets are limited in mapping accuracy, spatial context, or observation period. This study uses machine learning and high‐resolution imagery to produce a time series of crop maps to assess crop type trends and patterns across central California from 2005 to 2020. National Agriculture Imagery Program and Landsat imagery were used to classify nine crop types that are common in the study region: grain crops, field crops, rice, citrus and subtropical, deciduous fruit and nut, vineyard, berry and vegetable, pasture, and fallow/young perennial crop types. To create labeled data, we sampled 1253 fields and manually identified crop types for each examined year using high‐resolution imagery and Landsat normalized difference vegetation index time series. We applied a random forest machine learning algorithm in Google Earth Engine. Results show that the mean overall classification accuracy of the nine‐class map was 93.1%, with individual accuracies ranging from 99.3% (rice) to 89.5% (fallow/young perennial). Mann–Kendall trend tests showed significant (p < 0.05) declines in field crop and pasture area during the study period, while deciduous fruit and nut, citrus and subtropical, and fallow/young perennial crop types experienced significant increases. At an aggregate level, there was a general shift from annual crop types to perennial crop types. These data provide a 16‐year time span of spatially explicit crop type classifications, trends, and patterns in central California that can be used to aid managers and decision makers for resource planning or hazard mitigation.

Mitigation of asphalt volatile organic compounds emissions and health hazards using a TiO2-doped biochar composite: Microscopic and physiological insights

This study developed a novel TiO2-biochar composite as a modifier for functional asphalt coatings, achieving dual objectives of reducing VOCs emissions and mitigating cytotoxicity. The composite enhanced the softening point of the asphalt by approximately 6℃, reduced penetration and increased viscosity, thereby improving thermal stability and deformation resistance. Headspace-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis confirmed an over 80 % reduction in VOC emissions, significantly reducing the release of harmful compounds like alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, with the TiO2-biochar modified and UV-exposed (TUBC) demonstrating the most pronounced effect. In vitro assays with human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells showed the composite's cytotoxicity mitigation, with TUBC maintaining higher cell viability. The composite reduced ROS levels and the expression of cytotoxicity-associated biomarkers, suggesting a decrease in oxidative stress and inflammation. The high adsorption capacity of the composite and its photocatalytic degradation under UV light were identified as the key mechanisms for VOCs reduction. These findings collectively establish the TiO2-biochar composite as a promising solution for asphalt for greener and safer asphalt applications, with potential for global environmental and health benefits. Future work will focus on further optimization and field validation to facilitate the adoption of this technology in infrastructure development worldwide.

Recent Expansion of the Cascades Volcano Observatory Geophysical Network at Mount Rainier for Improved Volcano and Lahar Monitoring

Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) recently expanded its continuous geophysical monitoring at Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano in Washington state. CVO monitors volcanoes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to characterize volcanic systems and detect unrest. Mount Rainier has a history of large lahar occurrences in the Holocene, including at least one that may not have been associated with volcanic activity. Pierce County, Washington, is one of the areas most at risk from large lahars. In the 1990s, CVO collaborated with Pierce County to install the Rainier lahar detection system (RLDS), an automated system designed to detect large lahars in high-risk drainages and mitigate hazards to heavily populated areas. The system was designed to detect lahars within 5–10 min of their occurrence and alert authorities of the need to evacuate populated low-lying areas before lahar arrival. In addition, CVO and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) maintained and expanded a network of seismic and geodetic monitoring stations on and near the edifice to provide adequate volcano monitoring capabilities. Since 2016, CVO has worked to upgrade the existing RLDS and to expand its capabilities into other drainages around Mount Rainier. This expansion includes installation of 25 new broadband seismic stations with many including infrasound along high-risk drainages, as well as support for equipment upgrades at existing PNSN and CVO volcano monitoring sites. All stations transmit continuous, near-real-time data with dramatically improved spatial coverage for volcano monitoring and lahar hazard mitigation compared to the previous system.

Experimental investigation of the coupled effects of bedding planes and flaws on fracture evolution of soft bedded rocks based on 3D printing and DIC technologies

Bedded rocks are a typical geological formation with significant implications for understanding tectonic evolution, rock engineering, and geological hazard mitigation. This study introduces a novel method for fabricating bedded rocks using 3D printing (3DP) technology. By comparing the mechanical anisotropic properties and failure modes of 3DP bedded rocks with natural bedded rocks, we validate the feasibility of this approach. Compression tests are conducted on 3DP bedded rocks containing a single flaw to investigate the coupled effects of bedding planes and flaws on the mechanical properties. Digital image correlation (DIC) is employed for full-field deformation measurement during loading, enabling the study of deformation and crack evolution patterns. The results indicate that bedding planes dominate the brittleness of 3DP bedded rocks containing a single flaw. Significant plastic characteristics and prolonged nonlinear deformation stages are observed when the bedding angle (α) is between 0° and 45°, while brittleness becomes apparent beyond 45°. Both strength and elastic modulus are decided by bedding planes and initial flaws. By comparing stress–strain curves and rate of effective variance change (REVC)-strain curves, crack initiation can be quantitatively identified, revealing a linear correlation between strength and stress values at crack initiation points. The bedding plane also dominates crack propagation and failure modes: when α ≤ 30°, cracks propagate through the bedding, indicating tensile failure; when 45° ≤ α＜90°, cracks propagate along the bedding, indicating tensile-shear or shear failure; and when α = 90°, cracks propagate along bedding planes, indicating tensile failure. The findings of this study provide insights for explaining and predicting failure modes in engineering projects involving bedded rock formations, such as slopes, tunnels, and coal mines.

Assessment and mitigation of radiation hazard for individuals engaged in reconnaissance survey in uranium exploration in Jharkhand, India.

The present study attempts to obtain an a priori estimate of the absorbed dose received by an individual engaged in the reconnaissance survey in Uranium exploration using a predictive mathematical regression analysis. Other radiation safety parameters such as excess lifetime cancer risk are also calculated. Study reflects that the proper handling of naturally occurring radioactive materials accounts for an absorbed dose significantly less than the prescribed limit.

Comprehensive evaluation and optimal management of extreme disaster risk in Chinese urban agglomerations by integrating resilience risk elements and set pair analysis

This study comprehensively assesses the extreme disaster risk faced by Chinese urban agglomerations and optimizes disaster risk management strategies to enhance their disaster resilience and sustainable development. The focus is specifically on droughts, floods, and earthquakes. The integration of resilience risk elements and set pair analysis (SPA) is employed to obtain risk assessment results for different urban agglomerations, including hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. The study explores the contributions of important indicators, such as exposure, vulnerability, and disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, in disaster risk assessment, as well as their performance in various risk-prone urban areas. Comparative analysis of the assessment results for different urban agglomerations under various disaster types reveals varying levels of risk in droughts, floods, and earthquakes across different regions. Some areas exhibit higher hazard, exposure, or vulnerability levels, necessitating strengthened disaster prevention and mitigation measures. Regions with high exposure, low vulnerability, and strong disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities may face lower earthquake disaster risk, while regions with low exposure, high vulnerability, and weak disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities may face higher earthquake disaster risk. Moreover, the Comprehensive SPA model and Interval-valued SPA model outperform traditional SPA methods in assessing the existing flood risk level in Chinese urban agglomerations. The integrated model plays a significant role in predicting earthquake disasters, demonstrating the best predictive performance. This study provides essential reference data for urban disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, aiming to enhance urban resilience and disaster resilience capabilities.

Challenges and Opportunities in Navigating the Intersection of AI and Ergonomics in the Indian Market

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with ergonomics is revolutionizing workplace design and efficiency. AIdriven systems analyze human biomechanics and task repetition, providing data to optimize workspaces and minimize musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In manufacturing, AI-powered automation reduces physical strain and employs predictive analytics to preempt ergonomic issues. The IT sector benefits from AI-enhanced workstation optimization, especially in remote setups. Healthcare uses AI to refine equipment design and reduce strain through task automation. Construction leverages AI for hazard mitigation and efficient task scheduling. Challenges include high costs, limited expertise, cultural resistance, and infrastructure constraints. Overcoming these requires targeted incentives, education, and scalable solutions. Careful integration is crucial to address new ergonomic risks and ensure AI complements human roles, particularly in the Indian context.

How do peak-water-levels respond to natural shoreline restoration projects with progressive tide parallel to shore

Facing strict control of natural shoreline retention and the urgent need for mitigation of oceanic hazards, amid climate change, challenges persist in the spatial allocation of nature-based and concrete-based measures in China's coastal protection and restoration plans. This study explores the feasibility of “Operational Landscape Units" (OLUs) and their impact on peak-water-levels (PWL) and tides on the western Yellow Sea inner shelf (WYS), considering the newly published “China Coastal Ecological Zoning on Land and Seas” in 2023. Numerical experiments with a single OLU of county-size operated along the WYS indicate the largest reduction of 10% (0.23m) in PWL on the coast happens when an OLU is set on the section closest to the tidal amphidrome and the shoreline is parallel to the tidal propagation direction. Furthermore, as the restoration section extends on both sides, the spatial scale of the changed PWL expands. Further investigation reveals that OLUs positioned upstream of the tidal propagational direction can more effectively mitigate coastal inundation risks. This is because local tidal damping through bottom friction inside the OLUs overweighs the tidal damping on the inner shelf outside the OLUs. Overall, this study provides insights into high-tidal-flooding mitigation through OLUs in China's coastal zones, offering references for future coastal plans and flood control deployments.

Landslide susceptibility assessment in Addi Arkay, Ethiopia using GIS, remote sensing, and AHP

Landslides account for the breakdown of natural topographies, impacting many mountainous areas and leading to loss of lives and damaged infrastructure. This research aims to generate a reliable landslide susceptibility zonation map employing geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Processes (AHP) in Addi Arkay Woreda, North Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State, northern Ethiopia. The present study uses remote sensing data, geographic information system (GIS) tools, AHP, and weighted linear combination (WLC) models to analyze multiple environmental variables, including slope, aspect, curvature, lithology, soil texture, topographic wetness index (TWI), and rainfall. As per the results, around 186.12 km2 (13.26%) of the total study area is under very high landslide susceptibility and 140.85 km2 (10.05%) under very low susceptibility. Using Google Earth images for inaccessible areas, 121 landslide inventories were identified through fieldwork. Of these inventories, 85 were used to train the model and 36 for testing. The performance of the AHP model was validated by the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve (0.75), which indicates good predictive accuracy for identifying landslide-prone areas. These findings are essential to regional land use planning, hazard mitigation, and landslide prevention efforts. Additionally, this study contributes to the scientific understanding of landslide dynamics in the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia and offers a methodological framework that can be applied to other regions with similar geological and climatic conditions.

Observations on the role of internal sand moisture dynamics in wave-driven dune face erosion

Understanding and predicting dune erosion is crucial for coastal hazards mitigation, ecosystem preservation, as well as the protection of human settlements and infrastructure along sandy coastlines. However, our knowledge regarding the influence and potential importance of internal sand moisture content on wave-driven dune face erosion processes remains limited. This paper presents the findings from an extensive series of controlled wave flume experiments of eroding, unvegetated dunes, combining a range of wave conditions and water levels. A further variable that is studied directly for the first time is the internal moisture content of the dune. The initial moisture content and its evolving dynamics within the eroding dune face are quantified, revealing this to be a determining factor of the observed erosion rates, the final horizontal erosion distance, and the dune face failure type. Importantly, infiltration into the dune with each wave was not a driving mechanism of observed failures, but rather the rapid increase and then decrease of the phreatic surface within the dune, resulting in excess pore pressures and destabilization of the sediment matrix. Based on these observations two distinct mechanisms of shear failure and resulting dune face slumping are identified for unsaturated dunes corresponding to ‘minimum’ and ‘field capacity’ internal moisture content: Type 1 is associated with a circular failure surface in the absence of notching at the base of the dune, while for Type 2, notching is present and the failure surface is vertical. Under fully saturated conditions, the phreatic surface is observed to decouple from the wave runup, with excess water continuously exiting the dune face near the base. This results in rapid shear failure with no notching (Type 3). Significantly, dunes with saturated initial pore moisture content above the capillary fringe are observed to have up to 35 % greater erosion potential, consistently receding further landward than the two unsaturated counterparts as well as undergoing slumping in the absence of wave impact. A new conceptual framework is presented, comprising of a three-phase erosion sequence that directly links dune face failure mechanisms to wave runup and prevailing groundwater conditions.

Landslide susceptibility zoning with five data models and performance comparison in Liangshan Prefecture, China

Liangshan Prefecture, located at the northeastern edge of the Hengduan Mountain System and within the southern section of the Sichuan-Yunnan tectonic belt in Sichuan Province, China, a region prone to landslides, collapses and debris flows due to its active tectonics, complex topography and significant river erosion. By analysing a dataset of environment factors and geological hazard catalogue, the research uses the Relief algorithm to identify critical influencing factors for each hazard type, selecting 10, 9 and 9 factors for landslides, collapses and debris flows, respectively. Five models are used to assess the vulnerability of these hazards: the Information Value model, the Evidence Weight model, the Logistic Regression model, and both the Evidence Weight-Logistic Regression and the Information Value-Logistic Regression coupled models. The effectiveness of these models is confirmed by confusion matrix and ROC curve analyses, with the combined models showing particularly high accuracy in assessing susceptibility. High risk zones were identified in specific areas and along major fault zones in Liangshan Prefecture. The research provides significant insights into the susceptibility of geological hazards in mountainous and canyon regions, offering a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the limitations of single model applications. This methodology not only provides more accurate and comprehensive results, but also serves as a fundamental reference for geological hazard mitigation and management in Liangshan Prefecture, potentially benefiting similar regions worldwide.

Multi-Organizational Insights Into Radiological Safety Standards in High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy.

The review provides an extensive study of regulations and recommendations set forth by organizations worldwide in the domain of high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for the prevention and mitigation of radiation hazards. The relevant reports and publications by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), United States (US) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) were accessed, and necessary information was compiled to clarify and understand concepts, similarities, and differences in safety standards concerning to the topic. The regulations and guidance are categorized under three major components of safety, namely layout, equipment, and source. Layout category accesses structure, design, layout, and survey. The equipment category summarizes the requirements of equipment, installation, commissioning, quality assurance (QA) and performance, safety precautions and preparedness, safety procedures, and instructions. The source category includes requirements for sealed source possession and use, calibration, categorization, certification, licensing, QA tests, and security. IAEA gives inclusive guidance on radiation protection and regulatory requirements, forming the basis of reference for other organizations worldwide. AERB regulates the radiation facilities in India; therefore, most set-ups follow their safety standards and instructions.

Landslide Damming Threats Along the Jinsha River, China

The 2280 km long Jinsha River has been blocked at least four times in the past 30 years. A landslide damming hazard chain can endanger communities and infrastructures hundreds of kilometers downstream from the damming site in alpine gorges. Past damming events have resulted in severe consequences, demanding a thorough assessment of damming threats along the entire Jinsha River. This study digitizes the Jinsha River and visualizes its topographic, tectonic, hydrologic, and climate characteristics in detail. A two-stage full-probability method is proposed for assessing the damming threats along this river, making it possible to identify potential damming hotspots and high-priority zones for hazard mitigation. It is found that the upper reach of the Jinsha River poses the greatest damming threat, and the threat level gradually decreases downstream. Approximately 33.4%, 36.7%, 20.5%, and 9.4% of the entire length of the Jinsha River are classified as low, moderate, high, and very high threat levels, respectively. Compared with existing hydropower projects, future projects in the upper reach are more likely to be exposed to landslide damming. We highlight the value of basin-scale spatial threat analysis and envisage that our findings will promote more targeted local-scale risk assessments for potential damming hotspots. These outcomes provide the basis for managing the risks of river damming and hydropower infrastructure along the Jinsha River.