Implications of landslide runout modeling for vulnerability assessment: Benchmarking from a case study in the andean region
Citation
Medina, V., Hürlimann, M., Mendoza, J.A., Furdada, G., Vaunat, J. (2025). Implications of landslide runout modeling for vulnerability assessment: Benchmarking from a case study in the andean region. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 116: 104988. Link to paper
Abstract
This research proposes a quantitative evaluation framework to assess the implications of using different models for predicting landslide runout distance on vulnerability estimation through distinct vulnerability functions. Empirical methods enabled rapid assessments but exhibited high variability with landslide runout distance errors up to 120%. The sliding block model offered a balance between simplicity and physical realism, overestimating runout distance by 14% without calibration while also providing velocity estimates. Multidimensional models, though resource-intensive, best reproduced the observed behavior; the 3D model closely matched measured runout when calibrated with high-friction parameters and GIS-derived inputs. Model selection should align with the intended application: empirical models for rapid screening, analytical models for design purposes, and multidimensional models for detailed vulnerability assessments.