Events & Courses

A geological hazard (geohazard) is the consequence of an adverse combination of geological processes and ground conditions, sometimes precipitated by anthropogenic activity. The term implies that the event is unexpected and likely to cause significant loss or harm. To understand geohazards and mitigate their effects, expertise is required in the key areas of engineering geology, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, risk management, communication and planning, supported by appropriate specialist knowledge of subjects such as seismology and volcanology. There is a temptation for geoscientists involved in geohazards to get too focused on the ‘science’ and lose sight of the purpose of the work, which is to facilitate the effective management and mitigation of the consequences of geohazards within society.

The study and assessment of geohazards into the wider social context, helping the engineering geologist to better communicate the issues concerning geohazards in the UK to the client and the wider public.

Course overview

This course is ideal for geoscientists who are geoengineers, geotechnical experts or those who work in contaminated land. It is also useful for those who are in parallel sectors.

Each module is structured to give a presentation which sets the scene for the specific hazard, followed by discussion to develop understanding of the monitoring and the various elements which contribute to possible mitigation.

Each module is focused on a particular Geohazard.

Course module

Module 3. Landslides

This lecture covers a selection of the many landslide types encountered in the UK, and their distribution in Great Britain, related to such factors as the underlying geology, present erosion in places such as the coast, past erosion such as glaciation leaving valley sides in an unstable state, and sometimes the result of unwise engineering or building works.

While the UK is not as susceptible to major, disastrous, landslides as are some countries, it does have its ‘fair share’ of the phenomenon, and being a densely populated country, the occurrence of a landslide can range from the merely inconvenient, to the life-changing, incident. The lecture will describe some notable incidents, and point out that the study of UK landslides and failures in earthworks has informed engineering geology practice in many other parts of the world.

While landslides that cause fatalities are few and far between, due in part to the sedate pace with which landslides tend to occur in the UK, there are outliers, including the devastating loss of life in the Aberfan tragedy in 1966, and rapid onset and motion landslides also occur in some settings such as coastal cliffs. 

The lecture will point participants towards the Landslide Inventory, now maintained by BGS, but developed originally by Geomorphological Services Ltd, which showed formerly unknown distributions and  statistics on the occurrence of UK landslides.

Speaker

Dr Dr Roxana Ciurean (British Geological Survey)

More information to follow.

Registration

Registration will close 24 hours before the session takes place.

Concessionary Rates & Student Registration

We offer students a generous discount, please verify your student status by either registering with your student email address, or upload a photograph of your student identification/ acceptance letter.

The society offers a limited number of concessionary rates for those in financial hardship. Please contact [email protected] (please note you may be required to provide details/evidence to support your application for this rate).

Book the full course series

Book all 15 modules as a package with the Full Course option and enjoy a discount.

Book the full course series plus Special Publication

Book all 15 modules as a package plus Special Publication Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation by registering for the Full Course option and selecting the book package on the registration form.

We can offer bespoke discounts on group registrations of 5 or more. Please email [email protected] to enquire.

Alternatively, if you book all 15 modules it includes a discount.

Venue

These courses will be held virtually over Zoom between 16.00 GMT and will run until approximately 17.30 GMT depending on audience participation.

Delegates will receive joining instructions the day before they take place.