An Example of Landslide Scar Remediation by Soil Bioengineering from Hong Kong

Abstract

The topographic and climatic conditions of Hong Kong result in frequent landslides within the natural hillsides surrounding much of the urbanized and developed area. When failures do occur and in view of the high-risk levels associated with retrogression/reactivation of landslide scars, urgent repair works comprising of debris clearance and minor trimming back and shotcreting of landslide scars are frequently undertaken. Although effective in terms of reducing further landslide risk in the short term, these approaches have resulted in many unsightly concrete ‘scars’ within otherwise naturally vegetated slopes. To counter these impacts and enhance slope stability in a more sustainable and aesthetic manner, soil bioengineering techniques have recently been implemented within natural terrain catchments on Lantau Island that were subject to intense landsliding and subsequent emergency works in 2008. This paper discusses the design and implementation of some of the techniques implemented for landslide scar.