Range and impact analysis of translational landslides: a case study in Ponte Nova, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Translational soil landslides are relatively common geotechnical phenomena in both natural and artificial slopes, with significant relevance in geotechnical engineering and risk management. These events often cause severe damage to infrastructure, environmental impacts, and human losses in vulnerable areas. However, predicting the travel distance of these soil masses after failure is a considerable challenge due to soil variability and the lack of a reliable database. Soil properties such as grain size distribution, moisture content, and shear strength directly influence this behavior. This study conducted a characterization of local soils, with predictive runout analyses on a slope in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, Brazil, using back-analysis data from an actual failure to quantify the traveled distance and potential landslide impact. The results contribute to a better understanding of soil movement and made it possible to quantify the extent of landslides and their impacts on surrounding areas, providing valuable insights for planning and risk mitigation in susceptible regions.