Assessment of landslides using statistical methods and physically based mathematical models

• Grant number: 11/05963-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: June 16, 2011
• End date: June 27, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: Bianca Carvalho Vieira
• Grantee: Bianca Carvalho Vieira
• Visiting researcher: Carlos Valdir de Meneses Bateira
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The visit of Professor Valdir Carlos Meneses Bateira aims to participate in the project, "Predict Landslides and Debris flow Susceptible areas in the Serra do Mar (SP, RJ)" and his contributions as a researcher is the introduction of statistical tools for assessing susceptibility to shallow landslides and debris flow in the Serra do Mar, in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Currently, the subprojects developed by the Research Group, coordinated by Profa. Bianca Carvalho Vieira, involve field investigations of some physical and hydrological soils properties, and the objective is an understanding of the role of these properties on the dynamics of mass movements in the Serra do Mar (São Paulo and Rio). However, for the results of these investigations are more satisfactory statistical analysis is needed to give greater reliability in subsequent interpretations. The following activities are planned: three lectures about Landslides (USP and UFRJ), a meeting with members of the Department of Geography at USP, and two field trips. The first will be held between 18 and 21 June with the support of Prof. Dr. Nelson Ferreira Fernandes (UFRJ) and Defesa Civil of the Rio de Janeiro State, for cities in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, affected by landslides in January 2011. The second visit will be held between June 23 and June 26 in the basin studied (Copebrás and Ultrafértil (Santos) and Guaxinduba Basin (Caraguatatuba city, SP). The objectives of these visits are: (a) the definition of physical, hydrological and geotechnical studies for monitoring and/or research, (b) the interpretation of results obtained by mathematical models, and (c) the definition of new basins for the study of shallow landslide susceptibility both and debris flow. The benefits of this visit are: (a) review additional research methodologies in the area of Physical Geography, in assessing the mass movements susceptibility, (b) organize research projects together (c) Evaluate the organizational potential of post-graduate courses which enable the integration of students in mobility between universities and (d) organize workflow to enable optimal mobility among teachers. (AU)