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A Research on Sustainable Prevention and Management of Geological Disasters in Engineering

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 703

Special Issue Editors

Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Interests: geological disaster; engineering properties of special rocks and soil
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Guest Editor
School of civil engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
Interests: tunnel construction technology under complex conditions; durability of tunnel and underground structure
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Guest Editor
School of Rail Transportation, Soochow University, Suzhou 215131, China
Interests: municipal solid waste disposal; environmentally friendly construction materials; geotechnical engineering
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid development of engineering technology and socioeconomic activities has led to an increasing number of construction projects in mountainous regions and deep underground environments. These areas, characterized by complex topography and geological conditions, face heightened risks of engineering geological disasters. Surficial hazards such as landslides, collapses, debris flows, and ground settlements, as well as underground disasters like rock bursts, large deformations, water inrushes, and high temperatures, pose significant threats to both engineering safety and surrounding ecosystems. Such events not only jeopardize infrastructure resilience but may also trigger cascading environmental and societal impacts, undermining sustainable development goals.

To address these challenges, a holistic understanding of disaster mechanisms, evolution processes, and mitigation strategies is essential. Integrating sound engineering practices with sustainability principles is critical for ensuring the long-term safety, resilience, and environmental compatibility of infrastructure projects.

This Special Issue seeks to advance research on the intersection of geological disaster management and sustainable development, promoting innovative solutions that balance technical efficacy with ecological and societal well-being.

We welcome original research articles and reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

  1. Mechanisms and evolution processes of engineering geological disasters in the context of climate change and anthropogenic pressures;
  2. Sustainable mitigation measures for surficial and shallow-layer geological disasters, emphasizing nature-based solutions and ecosystem preservation;
  3. Risk assessment frameworks and resilient design strategies aligned with sustainable infrastructure development;
  4. Application of eco-friendly and green materials in disaster prevention, with a focus on lifecycle assessment and low-carbon alternatives;
  5. Advanced monitoring technologies and early-warning systems to enhance adaptive capacity and community preparedness;
  6. Sustainable post-disaster rehabilitation techniques and circular economy approaches for hazard-affected regions.

Dr. Xin Liao
Dr. Jimeng Feng
Prof. Dr. Qiang Tang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • engineering geological disasters
  • sustainable risk assessment
  • resilient infrastructure
  • green materials
  • disaster monitoring and early warning

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 3364 KB  
Article
Impact of Earthquake on Rainfall Thresholds for Sustainable Geo-Hazard Warnings: A Case Study of Luding Earthquake
by Qun Zhang, Junfeng Li, Shengjie Jin, Yanhui Liu, Shikang Liu, Zhuo Wang, Lei Zhang and Zeyi Song
Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8127; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188127 - 9 Sep 2025
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Abstract
This study explores the impact of the 2022 Mw 6.8 Luding Earthquake on various geo-hazards and their corresponding rainfall thresholds. Focusing on the seismic intensity VI zone in Sichuan Province, China, we analyzed 1979 geo-hazard records and hourly precipitation data from 475 stations [...] Read more.
This study explores the impact of the 2022 Mw 6.8 Luding Earthquake on various geo-hazards and their corresponding rainfall thresholds. Focusing on the seismic intensity VI zone in Sichuan Province, China, we analyzed 1979 geo-hazard records and hourly precipitation data from 475 stations between 2010 and 2024. Empirical ID (intensity–duration) and AC (accumulated rainfall–continuous rainfall duration) rainfall threshold models are established based on these datasets. By comparing pre- and post-earthquake data, this study assesses changes in the spatial distribution and triggering rainfall thresholds of landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows. The results indicate a significant increase in geo-hazard risks post-earthquake, particularly near the Xianshuihe Fault, with rockfall risks exhibiting the most pronounced rise. Statistical analysis reveals that the rainfall thresholds required to trigger geo-hazards decreased notably after the earthquake: ID models indicate a decrease of approximately 20%, while AC models show a reduction of about 20% in the western zone and 10% in the eastern zone. A four-level early warning system is developed using empirical rainfall threshold models, offering tailored hazard alerts for different regions and geo-hazard types. The variation in threshold values between the east and west zones highlights the influence of differing topographic and climatic conditions. These findings provide critical insights for post-seismic hazard assessment and inform more effective, sustainable early warnings, thereby supporting more reliable and sustainable disaster risk management in earthquake-affected regions. Full article
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