Landslide Risk

Landslides are a major geological hazard, responsible for significant loss of life, infrastructure damage, and environmental disruption each year. Triggered by factors such as intense rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity, rapid snowmelt, and human-induced land-use changes, landslides often occur suddenly, leaving little time for communities to respond.

Globally, landslides affect hundreds of thousands of people annually, with economic losses estimated in the billions of USD. Between 2000 and 2023, thousands of deadly landslide events were recorded, particularly in mountainous and densely populated regions where steep slopes, deforestation, and unplanned urban growth amplify vulnerability.

The risk is compounded by climate change, which intensifies extreme rainfall events, and by unsustainable development, which destabilizes natural slopes. Poor infrastructure, unregulated mining, and deforestation further increase exposure to landslide hazards.

Mitigating landslide risk requires continuous monitoring, hazard mapping, and early warning systems. Using satellite remote sensing (SAR, optical, and InSAR time-series), terrain modeling, and geospatial analysis, we detect slope instabilities, map vulnerable areas, and assess post-event impacts. These tools support authorities and communities in planning safer development, protecting lives, and enhancing resilience against landslide disasters.