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Stability Analysis on Urban Slopes: Case Study of an Anthropogenic-Induced Landslide in São José dos Campos, Brazil

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering volume 36, pages 599–610 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

This work presents the natural and anthropogenic drivers of a landslide event in the city of São José dos Campos, Brazil. By using stability analysis coupled with transient flux in non-saturated soil, it was found that an early warning for the event would be unfeasible with just the use of pluviometric data, given the local anthropic changes on the terrain. Rainfall was not the main trigger of the landslide after taking into account local characteristics, such as the high vertical section, a water tank leakage and surcharge over the slope. Considering that similar conditions are found in most areas of landslides in Brazil, numerical modeling that integrates such drivers, as well as monitoring of rainfall, soil moisture and soil suction, is a promising tool for the establishment of thresholds for landslides in early warning systems.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Civil Defense in São José dos Campos for the support in field activities, and to Jojhy Sakuragi for the interpretation of meteorological radar data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN/MCTIC), Estrada Doutor Altino Bondesan, 500, Parque Tecnológico, São José Dos Campos, SP, 12247-016, Brazil

    Rodolfo Moreda Mendes, Marcio Roberto Magalhães de Andrade, Celso Aluísio Graminha, Carla Corrêa Prieto, Frederico Fernandes de Ávila & Pedro Ivo Mioni Camarinha

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  1. Rodolfo Moreda Mendes
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  2. Marcio Roberto Magalhães de Andrade
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  3. Celso Aluísio Graminha
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  4. Carla Corrêa Prieto
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  5. Frederico Fernandes de Ávila
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  6. Pedro Ivo Mioni Camarinha
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Correspondence to Rodolfo Moreda Mendes.

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Mendes, R.M., de Andrade, M.R.M., Graminha, C.A. et al. Stability Analysis on Urban Slopes: Case Study of an Anthropogenic-Induced Landslide in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 599–610 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0303-z

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