National Technical Guidelines and Best Practices related to Landslides: a national initiative for loss reduction
The Earth Science Sector of Natural Resources Canada, through its Geoscience for Public Safety Program, has initiated the development of national technical guidelines and best practices related to landslides. With this initiative, Canada, as a world leader in the field, will actively contribute to reduce losses from landslides, with an aim to contribute to sustainable development. The guidelines are developed in collaboration with the Canadian Geotechnical Society and its Landslides Committee, as well as landslide experts from all regions in Canada.
Lateral spread in Champlain Sea clay deposits near St.Jude, QC, on May 10, 2010
The guidelines and best practices will provide Canadian geo-professionals, geoscientists, and engineers with a document that will be the state-of-the-art related to the science and applied science of landslides and associated loss reduction. It will be compiled from contributions by many of this country’s landslide specialists. The document will provide a comprehensive summary of key landslide topics, including identification, mapping, investigation, analysis, hazard and risk assessment, and mitigation.
Besides providing guidelines and best practices to landslide practitioners, this document will be a valuable reference for other groups including decision-makers, property owners, land use planners and environmental agencies. Ultimately it will help improve the safety of Canadians.
Highway 16 blocked by the Legate Creek landslide, 39 km east of Terrace, BC, May 28, 2007
This initiative has received strong endorsement and support from federal and provincial governmental agencies, learned and professional societies, academia, and geo-professionals in industry. Consultation meetings with all interest groups were held across Canada in early 2010 and helped to define the scope and content of the document. The first chapters are expected to be released later in 2010; the entire document is expected to be completed in 2012.
Canadian geo-professionals interested in contributing to the guidelines and best practices are invited to contact Réjean Couture, Geological Survey of Canada.
A prospectus is also available in PDF format [PDF, 7.8 Mb, viewer].
GSC Guide to authors
Contributor/Authors should follow the Geological Survey of Canada Guide to Authors that provides examples of style, as well as information on grammar, punctuation, abbreviations, references, figures and tables, and the GSC recommendations for spelling, usage of the English and French languages.
Chapter C – Classification, Description, Causes and Indirect Effects
Chapter D - Socio-Economic Significance
Chapter E - Review of existing landslide guidelines
Chapter F - Professional practice and insurance issues
Chapter H – Identification, Maps and Mapping
Chapter K – Landslide Risk Evaluation
Chapter N – Common Landslide Types in Canada
Chapter X – Site Investigation , Analysis, Monitoring and Treatment