How to Prevent Geological Hazards

Every part of the world is prone to geological hazards. The vulnerability is, however, higher in areas with weak soil. A single geological risk can damage millions of property and lead to a significant loss of life. The main geological hazards include soil erosion, floods, landslides, snow avalanches and windblown sandblasting. Although it is impossible to prevent all the risks, there are some measures that you can observe to reduce your vulnerabilities. Here are some of them:

Be prepared

Start by familiarising yourself with the most common geological hazards. Also, understand the history of your state so that you can know your risks. When you get the basics, consider consulting a geotechnical engineer to help you understand how you can protect yourself and your family. You can also increase your knowledge by downloading smartphone apps that give daily weather alerts. Being prepared also includes understanding how you can escape the hazards.

Construct retaining walls

If you have a property on an exposed slope, consider constructing a retention wall. As the name implies, a retention wall helps to keep the soil in place, protecting it from erosion in the event of heavy rains. A good retaining wall can also divert water channels away from your property to prevent floods in your compound. The construction of the retaining wall depends on many factors, and you should, therefore, start by consulting a geotechnical engineer. The expert will examine your land and recommend the best type of wall for your property.

Plant trees

Trees are the most conventional methods of controlling floods, soil erosion and other geological hazards. When you plant trees, the roots will penetrate deep into the soil and hold the soil particles firmly. A place that does not have trees creates a clear way for water to pass through, and the area becomes vulnerable to natural hazards. Additionally, a healthy forest offers great watersheds solutions such as streambank stabilisation and erosion control. Your geotechnical engineer will help you choose the best trees for your type of soil.

There are many methods of preventing geological hazards, but the above ones are the most crucial. If you are not sure of the type of soil in your ground, consider consulting a geotechnical engineer to inspect your land. In their professional capacity, the engineers plan and design stable structures to prevent hazards. For instance, they can recommend the best house design that you will construct to avoid the dangers, and they can also deal with landslides, earthquakes, floods, soil erosion and other hazards.

To learn more about geological hazards, contact a consulting geotechnical engineer in your area.