Training network protects against landslides

Landslides around the world cause thousands of deaths and injuries every year and billions of euros in damage. The EU-funded 'Multiscale modelling of landslides and debris flows' (MUMOLADE) project is investigating their causes and impact.

Simple models traditionally used to account for the complex behaviour of landslides and debris flows are insufficient to explain their complex behaviour. As a result, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of triggering conditions and failure mechanisms, and for reliable predictions of deposition patterns and impact forces.

MUMOLADE will combine the work of leading research groups into an effective research network to achieve a breakthrough in the study of landslides and debris flows. This will involve the development of a consistent physical model capable of providing reliable prediction and protection measures.

The consortium will also provide high-quality training for a multidisciplinary group of research fellows working in the challenging field of advanced computational analysis of natural hazards. Training and research will allow project partners to transform numerical models into a widely adopted method for providing reliable predictions and strategies.

This initial training network will result in trustworthy, fully validated software codes, well-documented databases and tools for European stakeholders. This will enable reliable predictions to be made and mitigation strategies to be developed for landslides and debris flows.

Planners will be able to design more effective stabilisation methods and protection structures. Accurate data will also be available for use in early warning systems.

The MUMOLADE project will help EU stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, engineers, planners, designers and contractors, to protect the public and environment from the threat of landslides.