Hi,
I would like to know if there is any free or paid software that includes the effect of the plants (hydrological and mechanical) in the slope stability analysis?
Thanks in advance.
Dear Charles Maffra ,
I believe that in QGIS you can perform this type of analysis. In QGIS there are several resources for remote sensing data analysis, such as the SCP plugin, where you can classify vegetation types, in addition there are built-in tools such as SAGA GIS and GRASS, where you can study the relationship with the hydrological elements and the terrain slope.
For analysis, you could consider using map algebra with the rasters layers of the elements involved (slope, hydrography, vegetation cover, etc).
Article SLIP4EX – A Program for Routine Slope Stability Analysis to ...
Conference Paper Modelling the Effects of Vegetation on Stability of Slopes
Most of my experience with slope stability is dated. If I was looking for a model, I would want one that has capability to input geology data such as faults, dip and strike; soils as some soil types are by their nature and site location unstable; vegetation, especially deep rooted plants and forests and recent clearing; hydrology and hydrological modifications, such as road network and excavation and fill across slopes and modifications of surface hydrology as road ditches and road surface water diversions can capture water and divert water onto unstable slopes. If possible, LiDAR coverage and high detail DEM can help identify both past failure landforms and perhaps many areas susceptible. We treated many landslides with hydro mulch with grass, knowing that this was probably more eyewash than anything else. Deep rooted forests can help stabilize. Some of my experiences and observations concerning this may be found in my researchgate publications on watershed restoration after calamity, and some applications of flood frequency and risk in forest management. With combination of the appropriate GIS layers and stability and topographic information, GIS plus is the geology, soil, vegetation and hydrology background, along with road network and harvesting or ground disturbance activity would make an effective tool.
Thanks for the answers Leandro França , Alireza Araghi and William F. Hansen , they were very enlightening and comprehensive.
Dear Charles,
I guess you are looking for a software that would provide the risk of slope failures.. To better gauge my understanding on this question, could you kindly elaborate what type of analysis you want to perform. For instance, would you need the Factor of Safety (FoS) or simply the risk of failure?
P.S. We have published a paper related to similar matter (i.e. effects of invasive animals and their burrow systems), but we did not consider the vegetation problem there. You may read the article as well: Article Probabilistic stability evaluation for wildlife-damaged eart...
Dear Sandun,
Exactly, I would like to know if there is any software similar to Geoslope or Plaxis in which we can insert the contribution of the plants (hydrological and/or mechanical) in the stabilization of a slope. That is, it would be the effect of plants on the Factor of Safety (FoS) of a natural or engineered slope .
I consider the abomentioned important for plants to be understood as an alternative engineering material that also has both ecological and aesthetic effects.
P.S. The following article may complement my question:
Article Evaluation of Live Cuttings Effect on Slope Stability
Hi Charles!
I have read the discussion and i think that BSTEM 5.0 is an useful tool for your research. This is the link for a pdf with some information about it:
https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/60600505/xls/bstem-5.0_example_use.pdf
Moreover, a recent model that combine hydrological and mechanical effects of vegetation is the tRIBS_VEGGIE Model.
This Model is described in this article:
Modeling the hydrological anche mechanical effect of roots on shallow landslides. Arnone et al., (2016).
Hi Lorenzo!
Thanks for your answer. The BSTEM suggestion was especially useful to my purpose.
Hi Charles,
I suggest the tools of Ecorisq ( http://www.ecorisq.org/).
As soon as possible, a similar tool will be available for the end of the project TREE:HERO (https://www.researchgate.net/project/TREE-distribution-patterns-HillslopE-failuRe-preventiOn-through-forest-management-TREEHERO).
Bye!
Alessio
Hi Allessio,
Thanks for your suggestions.
The TREE:HERO is a very interesting project. Is it being developed specifically for the characteristics of the Italian territory? Could it be adapted to tropical regions?
By the way, congratulations on the project.
Regards
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