CCES-TRAMM: Triggering of Rapid Mass Movements in Steep Terrain

The sudden failure and mass movement on steep slopes (landslides, avalanches and debris flows) represent a ubiquitous and significant natural hazard in Switzerland, claiming lives and causing millions of CHF in property damage every year.

In 2006 eight research groups of the ETH domain joined forces to shed new light on processes controlling onset of rapid mass movements. In the frame of the project TRAMM - funded by the ETH Competence Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CCES) - they developed model approaches and sensors applicable to monitoring and quantifying various forms of hazardous mass movements.

A notable achievement of TRAMM was the performance of unique large scale field experiments for inducing landslides that were possible only through close collaboration among the different groups.

The results and conclusions of the TRAMM project have been presented in international scientific conferences, and published in several international scientific journals, as well as in a national brochure for natural hazard experts (FAN-Agenda). 

A second phase with a focus on the development of numerical models and strategies for the early warning of rapid mass movements has been approved for the period 2012-14.

More information

• Official homepage of TRAMM
  

Participants

• Manfred Stähli (Mountain Hydrology and Mass Movements)
  
• Brian McArdell (Mountain Hydrology and Mass Movements)
• Florian Frank (Mountain Hydrology and Mass Movements)
• Christian Rickli (Mountain Hydrology and Mass Movements)
• Jürg Schweizer (Snow Avalanches and Prevention)

Contact

• Manfred Stähli