Four Actions Meant to Increase Ground Stability and Prevent a Landslide

• Landslides hazard can be reduced by avoiding to emplace new constructions on steep slopes or by stabilizing the slopes before beginning the actual construction works. When ground water cannot rise in the landslide mass, stability is increased. To achieve this result, some actions are required:

1. Covering the land with impermeable membranes in order to prevent water infiltration in the landslide.

2. Directing surface water sources away from the landslides.

3. Draining ground water streams away from the landslides.

4. Minimizing irrigation on the surface of the soil.

   • To achieve increased slope stability, it is also useful to remove mass from the top of the slope, so that its weight does not force the layer to slide.

   • Due to the huge losses that landslides imply, their prevention is of maximum importance for all the people living in the area of hazard. Preventing a landslide from causing material damage and human losses should be a main goal of local authorities.