Landslide detection research gathers steam

Several groups of researchers in the country are working upon solutions to reduce landslide-induced fatalities by providing early and accurate warnings so that traffic can be stopped on certain routes and people are relocated to safer places in time.

Widespread devastation, numerous road crashes and deaths caused by landslides in several parts of the country throughout the year have turned the spotlight on the urgent need for its early detection or monitoring systems.

A damaged road after a landslide due to heavy rain near Chikmagalur on October 22. (PTI)

According to experts, agencies like Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun and defence sector agencies like Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment (SASE) have been carrying out studies to minimise landslide-induced accidents and provide solutions.

Landslides are the third biggest natural disasters in the world, with India experiencing the biggest bulk of them -- 15% of India is prone to landslides and India has the highest number of landslide deaths in the world.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, who claim to have developed the cheapest solution for landslide monitoring system across the globe are now experimenting with the same system across railway tracks. “We have patented a surface-level motion sensor-based early warning system developed by our team. The device gathers information about weather parameters... sends SMS alerts,” Varun Dutt, Associate Professor, IIT Mandi, told PTI. “The sensors alerted officials about an imminent landslide on the Mandi-Jogindernagar highway, which helped the police turn away vehicles... The cost of installing our system is around ₹80,000 which is the cheapest for such systems across the globe with the usual costs roughly being around ₹2 crore.”