Geotechnical stability analysis, fragility of structures and velocity of movement to assess landslides vulnerability

Abstract. Landslides are geohazards that can be potential risks to life and property; these phenomena usually cause disasters when they occur in densely populated communities as those that inhabit mountainous and steep regions.

Hazard and vulnerability are parameters determined by probability mathematical analysis with values between 0 and 1. When there are no records or enough information regards historical events on the phenomenon in study, that have occurred in a specific area (as in several mountainous regions of Mexico inhabited by ethnic groups), it has the disadvantage of not being able to perform a statistical analysis to properly evaluate the hazard nor the vulnerability.

To solve the problem, this paper presents a proposal for evaluating the physical and functional vulnerability of the elements at risk, from two fundamental aspects: (a) the exposure level (EL), and (b) the expected damage degree (EDD). First of these factors is determined by the severity index (SI) and the safety factor from geotechnical stability analysis (SFgeo); the second one from the construction type (degree of fragility of structures) and the velocity that may have the landslide. For evaluating the parameters aforementioned, included tables, graphs and equations proposed by the authors.