Geohazards
Geohazards concerns the study of how natural processes and human activity can trigger events that represent a danger to both people and the environment.
Las Colinas landslide in Santa Ana, El Salvador. Triggered by magnitude 7.3 earthquake in January 2003. 600 fatalities (La Prensa Gráfica/El Diario de Hoy, 2001).
The most common geohazards on land are various types of landslides, flooding, erosion and earthquakes. In the sea, earthquakes and human activity can cause large underwater landslides. A knowledge of these types of processes is essential in order for communities at risk to better prevent damage and adapt buildings and infrastructure accordingly.
The study of geohazards is closely linked to risk analysis of possible future catastrophes and makes use of modern remote sensing techniques and geographical information systems in both studying the processes themselves, as well as in monitoring activity in vulnerable or high risk areas.
More about the research group Remote sensing.
International Centre of Geohazards
In 2003 a group of geoscientists from 5 Norwegian research institutes was awarded status as Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Research Council of Norway, International Centre of Geohazards, CoE - ICG, for a periode of 10 years. The Centre's objective is to be an international centre of expertise on basic and applied research on geo-related natural hazards (geohazards), such as landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis. The research focus is to develop knowledge that can help save lives and reduce damage to infrastructure and the environment. Another aim is to train graduate students and highly-qualified researchers from Norway and abroad in technical aspects of geohazards risk management.
Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) is the host organization for ICG, and the other partners are UiO, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NORSAR, and Geological Survey of Norway (NGU).
More about the International Centre of Geohazards, CoE - ICG.