Geo-hazards Research and Investigation in the Loess Regions of Western China

The geo-hazards such as slide, collapse and mud flow occur frequently due to the natural geographical environment, geological structure in western China and the special engineering characteristics of loess. The loess Plateau, which attracts worldwide attention, is a high susceptibility area for geo-hazards and a key area for its mitigation in China. Since the 1950s, the landslides investigation and evaluation have been conducted. In particular, through the relevant work during the 12th Five-Year Plan and the 13th five-year Plan period, the regularity of geo-hazards in the area has been basically found out, the key technologies such as early recognition, field investigation, monitoring and early warning, and risk assessment of loess geo-hazards has been explored, the key Laboratory of Loess geo-hazards and field scientific observation stations of the Ministry of Natural Resources has been built, which effectively supports the establishment of comprehensive geo-hazards mitigation system in the Northwest China. On the basis of reviewing the previous work achievements, combined with the influence of extreme climate changes and human engineering activities in recent years, this paper analyzes the new situation of loess geo-hazards prevention in the western loess regions. In order to further improve the loess geo-hazards mitigation of western China, several suggestions are put forward, such as strengthen the geo-hazards risk investigation, improve the monitoring technologies targeted to loess geo-hazards, construct the geo-hazards risk management considering both the potential loess geo-hazards and the geo-hazards susceptibility areas.