Landslide Hazards Conference

Landslide Hazards Conference Planned

Includes Science, Policy, Public Safety, and Potential Loss Perspectives

A major conference will be held February 26-28, 2015, on landslide hazards and the risks they pose to people, property, and the environment. The conference is planned by the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists. It is hosted by the University of Washington – Seattle.

The conference is for policy makers, elected officials, land-use planners and managers, utilities, landslide experts, insurers, lenders, media, and others. These various perspectives will be used to develop strategies to bridge gaps among science, land use, property rights, and public safety. 

The conference objective is to increase communication on the landslide issue. The ultimate goal is to minimize the damage and costs of future landslides. Local, state, national, and international landslide hazard identification and mitigation programs are included.

Keynote speakers will showcase general landslide hazards and lessons learned from the 2014 Oso, Wash., landslide. Other topics include the new Washington Landslide Commission and modeling landslide risk management after the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program. 

On Thursday, February 26, 2015, the program will focus on current conditions and knowledge. On Friday, February 27, the program will address ways to make improvements. On Saturday, February 28, there will be an optional field trip to recent landslides in both Everett and Oso, Wash.

Co-sponsors include the Washington State Geological Survey; King County, Wash.; the Canadian Geotechnical Society; and others.

The cost of the conference is $300, which includes two lunches, refreshments, and a hosted reception. The cost of the optional field trip to the landslides in Everett and Oso, Wash., is $100.