DRM Researchers Study Romanian Landslide Hazards for World Bank

DRM-VT Researchers along with colleagues at the Scoula Universitaria Professionale dell Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI) and DRM, Inc. in Lugano, Switzerland are studying landslide hazards in Romania as part of a World Bank sponsored research project. The project involves identifying major landslides in the country, assessing relative hazard nationally, and selecting two pilot regions for detailed study. The detailed study includes advanced real-time instrumentation, monitoring, geotechnical and geological site investigations, detailed numerical analysis, and training of local engineers and decision makers.

Photo Above: Landslide repair work at abutment of Sachele Dam, a 30 m high earthfill dam that supplies drinking water for 300,000 residents in nearby Brasov, central Romania. The landslide is threatening the water intake structure and stability of the dam, and also is susceptible to earthquake-induced motions from nearby earthquake sources.

(Posted Sep. 27, 2008 by James Martin)