BACKGROUND
Recent landslides in the Philippines, Central and South America, and more recently the possible landslide hazard in the earthquake stricken regions of Northern Pakistan have shown that there is an urgent need to raise the landslide awareness among the rural population in developing countries. For this purpose, a program similar as the ones used to promote proper construction practices in seismic regions is need, which, however, does currently not exist.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of proposed research work is to design a comprehensive, effective, user-friendly landslide awareness program that could be used to train the rural population in developing countries (much like it is done for the improved construction of non-engineered houses) that live in regions with a significant landslide hazard. This program would educate people to better foresee the occurrence of a landslide, reduce the human impact that facilitates landslides (like deforestation, cutting into unstable slopes...), and prepare people for the event of a landslide. Also, a simple illustrated manual would be produced to be distributed among the affected population.

ORGANIZATION

1. Awareness training program

1.1 Basics on why do landslides occur and how to mitigate them
1.2 Expected local landslide type and hazard
1.3 What to do during and after a landslide

1.3.1 Identify a safe location in the village where to gather just after the landslide, where some tools and firs-aid materials are stored
1.3.2 Assign 2-3 people to be responsible for the coordination of aftermath actions (need additional training): know who to call for help, how to organize rescue

2. Landslide monitoring

2.1 Identification of indicators of possible landslides: cracks in the ground, leaning trees/poles, topling of retaining walls, etc...
2.2 Monitoring systems: using a matrix of poles, pore pressure monitoring, toe monitoring, etc...

3. Preventive measures

3.1 Drainage
3.2 Reforestation, vegetation
3.3 Limited cutting into the slopes

4. Numerical analysis

Use of numerical models (Geo-Slope, UDEC, etc...) to asses the effectiveness of the landslide monitoring and mitigation methods.