The treatment of landslides

To most civil engineers, a paper on the subject of 'The treatment of landslides' would conjure up a catalogue of stabilization systems, However, the size and scope of slope instability problems lead to a variety of responses, by no means all of which can be seen as stabilization, In some cases, the problem is too large to be addressed economically, if at all, by engineering works; in others, it is better avoided rather than met head on, In this paper, the broad spectrum of responses to slope instability phenomena is discussed, and the resulting approaches are put into a simple, logical, philosophical framework, Where stabilization is necessary, there are a variety of means by which it can be done, A brief overview of the range of stabilization options is given, with an emphasis on identifying those stabilization options which give rise to an ongoing maintenance commitment in contrast to those that provide a once and for all solution, A comprehensive review is not intended, The paper is illustrated with reference to a number of case examples drawn from the literature, both in the UK and abroad.