MOVED TO ACTION – AN OUTCOME OF GEOHAZARD ASSESSMENT

From the perspective of a geotechnical engineer, the desired outcome of a geohazard assessment is an action, even if sometimes that action is an informed decision to do nothing. New tools and methods to observe the earth and to watch it change provide unprecedented opportunities for recognizing geohazards, and they can do so with such detail and breadth that their output can be as paralyzing to a “decision maker” as it is mesmerizing to a geoscientist. Fortunately, there are evolving risk-based prioritization approaches and there are more audiences receptive to performance-based designs that are reflective of an understanding of risk. There are also evolving methods that not only apply these new tools for analysis and design, as used in risk assessments, but also in the communication of concepts and outcomes that are difficult for stakeholders to comprehend. Examples of lidar and InSAR application are presented where ground surface change detection has been quantified to assess risk and inform decisions. Innovative techniques for visualization and communication can move people to action, and these are also demonstrated for landslide and debris flow hazards.