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Brief communication: Weak correlation between building damage and loss of life from landslides

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: . Mapping exposure to landslides is necessary to mitigate risk and reduce vulnerability. Exposure maps can be constructed from building databases, akin to seismic risk assessments, but there has been little investigation of the predictive relationship between building damage and risk to human life from landslides. Our study investigates this relationship globally and in Nepal (47,213 and 5,664 landslides, respectively). While a correlation exists for nationwide totals (R2=0.75), it is near zero for individual events (R2=0.025). It is important not to use building datasets in isolation for landslide exposure maps and disaster planning to avoid unintentionally prioritising building damage over human lives.
DOI: 10.5194/nhess-25-1937-2025
Authors: Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries, Alexandre Dunant, Amy L. Johnson, Erin L. Harvey, Sihan Li, Katherine Arrell, Jeevan Baniya, Dipak Basnet, Gopi K. Basyal, Nyima Dorjee Bhotia, Simon J. Dadson, Alexander L. Densmore, Tek Bahadur Dong, Mark E. Kincey, Katie Oven, Anuradha Puri, Nick J. Rosser
Institutions: Durham University, Georgia College & State University, University of Sheffield, Northumbria University, Social Science Baha, National Society for Earthquake Technology, University of Oxford, Newcastle University
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,553
OpenAlex ID: W4411210327
FWCI: 2.971
Cites: 20
Cited by: 3
Related to: 10