Numerical Modelling of the Dynamics of Debris Flows and Rock Avalanches

Prediction of velocity and travel distance of potential rapid landslides such as debris flows, debris avalanches, flow slides and rock avalanches is useful for quantitative hazard and risk assessment. This article describes some methods that are becoming available for practical use. The proposed approach uses calibration of relatively simple numerical landslide dynamics models against observed behaviour of real landslide events. Two example cases of runout back-analyses, selected from a recent International Benchmarking Exercise conducted in Hong Kong, are presented.