Landslide Awareness and Prevention
- Course Number: C1005
- Credits: 10 hours
- Instructor: Ellen Huang, PE
- Price: $100
Course Outline
Landslides are a widespread natural hazard that destroys homes, infrastructure, and ecosystems while causing significant loss of life and economic disruption. Based on the USGS Landslide Handbook (Circular 1325), this course provides a technically grounded introduction to landslide processes, types, causes, and effects. Participants will learn how landslides form, how to recognize warning signs, and how factors such as rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and human actions contribute to slope failure. The course also summarizes modern tools for evaluating landslide hazards—including mapping, aerial and field reconnaissance, remote sensing, and monitoring—and outlines proven mitigation and risk-reduction practices for communities, planners, and property owners.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be able to identify major landslide types and their distinguishing characteristics.
- Be able to explain natural and human-induced causes that trigger slope instability.
- Be able to recognize common warning signs and tools used to evaluate landslide hazards.
- Be able to apply basic mitigation and risk-reduction strategies to protect people and infrastructure.