Recommendations for Landslide Early Warning Systems in Informal Settlements Based on a Case Study in Medellín, Colombia

Moritz Gamperl (), John Singer, Carolina Garcia-Londoño, Lisa Seiler, Julián Castañeda, David Cerón-Hernandez and Kurosch Thuro
Additional contact information
Moritz Gamperl: Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
John Singer: AlpGeorisk, 86609 Donauwörth, Germany
Carolina Garcia-Londoño: Geological Society of Colombia, Antioquia Chapter, 50016 Medellín, Colombia
Lisa Seiler: Chair of Landscape Architecture and Design, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Julián Castañeda: Geological Society of Colombia, Antioquia Chapter, 50016 Medellín, Colombia
David Cerón-Hernandez: Geological Society of Colombia, Antioquia Chapter, 50016 Medellín, Colombia
Kurosch Thuro: Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: Fatalities from landslides are rising worldwide, especially in cities in mountainous regions, which often expand into the steep slopes surrounding them. For residents, often those living in poor neighborhoods and informal settlements, integrated landslide early warning systems (LEWS) can be a viable solution, if they are affordable and easily replicable. We developed a LEWS in Medellín, Colombia, which can be applied in such semi-urban situations. All the components of the LEWS, from hazard and risk assessment, to the monitoring system and the reaction capacity, were developed with and supported by all local stakeholders, including local authorities, agencies, NGO’s, and especially the local community, in order to build trust. It was well integrated into the social structure of the neighborhood, while still delivering precise and dense deformation and trigger measurements. A prototype was built and installed in a neighborhood in Medellín in 2022, comprising a dense network of line and point measurements and gateways. The first data from the measurement system are now available and allow us to define initial thresholds, while more data are being collected to allow for automatic early warning in the future. All the newly developed knowledge, from sensor hardware and software to installation manuals, has been compiled on a wiki-page, to facilitate replication by people in other parts of the world. According to our experience of the installation, we give recommendations for the implementation of LEWSs in similar areas, which can hopefully stimulate a lively exchange between researchers and other stakeholders who want to use, modify, and replicate our system.

Keywords: landslide early warning system; informal settlement; low-cost monitoring; socially integrated; Medellín; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:7:p:1451-:d:1198668

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