Risk Assessment and Treatment in Slope Stability Forensic Engineering

Slope instability phenomena are frequently responsible for considerable losses of both money and lives. In view of above consideration, it is not surprising that slope instability phenomena are rapidly becoming the focus of major scientific research, engineering study and practices, and land-use policy throughout the world. The paramount importance of slope instability management is by and large recognized. Herein lies the guiding principle of the current paper; i.e., to describe slope instability hazard assessment and methods to mitigate the associated risks in an appropriate and effective way. Back analysis of failed slopes is one of the most effective ways to advance our knowledge in the field of slope stability engineering. This paper discusses procedures to back calculate soil shear strength parameters from slope failures and illustrates how these parameters can be subsequently used to design slope remedial works.