Performance of slope stabilisation trials on the road network of Laos
Several sites were selected for bioengineering and low-cost engineering trials and the performance of these works can now be assessed
Abstract
Large parts of the world’s mountains lie in developing countries and many mountain areas experience seasonally distributed rainfall that can trigger landslides and flood hazards (e.g. Hearn 2011a). Landslides, in particular, lead to recurrent road closures that can require costly reinstatement as well as socioeconomic losses due to intermittent access. Road authorities often have insufficient funds to prevent landslides from occurring and some are unable to respond swiftly and effectively when they do occur. An affordable and sustainable approach to slope management has so far eluded many road authorities when confronted with these hazards. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) has invested considerable effort in the development and application of best practice techniques for sustainable slope management in rural access road corridors in developing countries. In 2006, DFID commenced a 3-year research project in Laos aimed at strengthening slope management practices in the country and developing and adapting the techniques pioneered in Nepal for use in the Indochina region. Several sites were selected for bioengineering and low-cost engineering trials and the performance of these works can now be assessed, some 10 years after their implementation.
This work is part of the Applied Research on Rural Roads and Transport Services through Community Access Programmes in Africa and Asia (AFCAP2 and AsCAP)
Citation
Hearn, G., Hunt, T. and Howell, J. (2020). Performance of slope stabilisation trials on the road network of Laos. In: Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrology, vol 64.
Link
Performance of slope stabilisation trials on the road network of Laos