About This Course

Classification (of human beings, animals, plants, objects, ideas, methods and so on) is typical of any scientific and technical activity. Although it may sometimes appear time-consuming and, often, even unnecessary, classification is a fundamental step to undertake always before approaching the core of the problem.

This short talk concerns the classification of landslides, which is preliminary to framing the issue, and choosing of the best criteria for landslide investigation, analysis and, when necessary, risk mitigation.

All classifications of landslides essentially rely on the description of some elementary and easily recognizable features of the event. The aim of this talk is to show that such simple features can reveal some basic and sometimes hidden mechanical aspects of the movement of unstable sloping soil bodies.

This talk is dedicated to the memory of the late Oldrich Hungr, who is the second one from the right side in the photo. The speaker is the second one from the left side. The picture was taken in 2012, on the occasion of a survey in a vast area, around Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, struck by debris flows and debris avalanches.