Geocarto International

From Data to Decisions: Mapping and Managing Landslide Risk with Cutting-Edge Technology

Landslides represent one of the most significant geological hazards in mountainous regions worldwide. Their threat is particularly acute in those regions undergoing rapid settlement and infrastructure development. Landslides are triggered by complex interactions between combinations of factors including fragile geological conditions in mountainous regions, hydrological processes, climatic variations, and anthropogenic activities. With increasing population growth and rapid urban expansion in vulnerable landscapes, the societal and economic impacts of landslides are escalating, making risk assessment and management ever more critical.

Recent advancements in spaceborne differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR), high-precision Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), remote sensing satellite constellations, UAV-based imaging capabilities and geospatial analytics have transformed the way we study landslide-prone terrains. Geotechnical and geophysical methods further contribute to understanding subsurface conditions, material properties, and failure mechanisms, allowing researchers and practitioners to develop robust predictive models. Moreover, with the advent of numerical simulation models that integrate recently available high-resolution topographic, geological, hydrological, and rheological data, mapping potential landslide runout zones, characterising their flow behaviour, and understanding the link between source and runout zones have become critical for accurate hazard mapping, comprehensive risk assessment, and the design of effective mitigation strategies.

This Article Collection advances scientific understanding while providing practical guidance for policymakers, planners, and disaster managers, fostering safer, resilient, and sustainable communities in landslide-prone areas. The Collection aims to bring together cutting-edge research and technological innovations focused on gaining wider scientific insights into landslide incidence, with a view towards monitoring and mitigating landslide hazards and the development of early warning mechanisms. The Collection emphasises the integration of multidisciplinary approaches, bridging geospatial technologies, geotechnical and geophysical investigations, spaceborne geodetic observations by DInSAR and GNSS for detecting slow surface deformation, remote sensing satellite constellations and UAV-based imaging of landslide prone areas with finer spatial and temporal resolutions, numerical simulation modelling for predicting and characterising potential runout zones and advanced mapping/monitoring/modelling techniques by emerging AI/ML algorithms.

This Article Collection invites contributions that advance our understanding of the complex interaction among the conditioning and triggering factors of landslide incidence, via cutting-edge research which uses emerging tools and techniques aimed at monitoring and mitigating landslide hazards and the development of early warning mechanisms.

Scope and subtopics for the Collection include but are not necessarily limited to:

1): Remote sensing and geospatial analysis

2): Geotechnical and geophysical investigations

3): Landslide hazard and susceptibility assessment

4): Early warning systems and real-time monitoring

5): DInSAR and GNSS-based deformation monitoring

6): Rainfall threshold models and hydrological triggers

7): Integrated risk assessment frameworks

8): Numerical simulation and modelling of landslides

9): UAV/ terrestrial imaging for landslide monitoring

10): Landslide mapping and modelling by AI/ML techniques

11): Interdisciplinary studies linking satellite/UAV/field measurements and modeling

12): Innovative approach for urban mountainous landscapes.

Article Collection Guest Advisors

R. S Chatterjee is an accomplished Earth scientist with distinguished expertise in Microwave and Thermal Remote Sensing Applications in geosciences and Geoenvironmental studies. His expertise encompasses Interferometric and Differential Interferometric SAR (InSAR/DInSAR) data analysis for assessing earth surface deformation and hazard monitoring. He has significantly contributed to understanding the geodynamics of the Himalaya and active tectonic processes, offering insights into regional crustal movement and instability. His research also extends to groundwater depletion, mining-induced land subsidence modeling, and landslide assessment, integrating advanced remote sensing and GIS-based analytical approaches to address critical environmental challenges.

Harish Khali is Assistant Professor at Graphic Era University. A geologist with a strong research focus on Geohazard and terrain dynamics in complex mountainous environments, his expertise lies in the assessment of landslide processes, slope instability mechanisms, and geomorphological evolution, supported by the integration of remote sensing, GIS, and field-based geotechnical investigations. He has advanced scientific understanding of lithological control, structural deformation, and surface processes influencing hazard occurrence and landscape evolution. His research contributes to the development of quantitative models for hazard prediction and risk assessment, fostering improved geoscientific approaches to disaster resilience and sustainable terrain management.

K. S. Rawat has particular proficiency in mountain ecosystem dynamics and geo-environmental interactions. His research emphasizes the linkages between ecological processes, terrain characteristics, and climatic variability in fragile mountain environments. He integrates remote sensing, GIS, and field-based ecological assessments to study biodiversity patterns, land degradation, and habitat vulnerability. His work advances scientific understanding of mountain ecosystem resilience, contributing to the formulation of sustainable management strategies and nature-based solutions for climate-sensitive regions.

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 1 August 2026.

Please contact Commissioning Editor Alex Johnson at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

The Guest Advisors have declared no conflict of interests in preparing this Article Collection.

Article Collection Key Terms:

1. Urban Geohazards
2. Slope Stability Analysis
3. Hazard Assessment
4. Early Warning Systems
5. Risk Mitigation Strategies