(VNF) - The first ever experiment with landslide artificial rainfall simulator in the nation has been conducted by Vietnamese and Japanese experts via the “Development of landslide risk assessment technology along transport arteries in Vietnam” project.

The landslide simulator, the first one of its type in Vietnam, was constructed within the scope of the above-mentioned project. Experiments with the landslide simulator in this laboratory are expected to give the project team valuable data of landslide mechanism in Vietnam.

Within the scope of the project, joint working groups between Institute of Transport Science and Technology (ITST) under the Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport and International Consortium of Landslides (ICL) of Japan have been conducting collaborative research activities, including accumulating data from real landslide sites; formulating landslide risk maps from aerial photographs and satellite information; analyzing landslide simulation in laboratory.

Since the launch of the project, many Japanese experts have come to Vietnam to transfer technology to Vietnamese colleagues and a good number of ITST officials have been invited to Japan for long-term and short-term trainings.

In addition to that, various landslides monitoring equipment have also been installed both in the selected sites near Hai Van railway station in Da Nang and at ITST to formulate a model of 24-hours landslide monitoring system in Hanoi.

Landslides which often occur in the rainy season interrupt activities on the arterial roads, causing not only significant economic loss but also affecting communities in the mountainous areas of Vietnam.

It is hoped that through the development of new risk assessment technologies in monitoring and forecasting ground movements as well as enhancing early warning system and disaster preparedness in the project, the effects of landslides will be reduced./.

( VNF )