Ground Deformation Monitoring of a Strategic Building Affected by Slow-Moving Landslide in Cuenca (Ecuador)

The prevention and mitigation of slope instability requires effective technologies to reduce the vulnerability of existing structures. Landslides are global phenomena, caused by natural geological phenomena or induced by anthropogenic sources. Slow and intermittent landslides result in a significant number of losses, as well as physical damage and extensive economic losses to private and public property. The physical vulnerability of buildings to landslides is a term used to describe their potential for physical loss when they are affected by movements induced by unstable terrain. Therefore, monitoring plays a key role in the management of natural hazards and assumes a fundamental task to provide cost-effective solutions to mitigate or minimize physical and economic losses. Remote sensing techniques proved to be powerful investigative tools due to their high spatial and multi-temporal coverage, rapid data acquisition and overall reasonable costs. The main aim of the present issue is to provide a general methodology that can be used to predict the spatial and temporal evolution of a slow landslide. In particular, this work analyses a slow-moving phenomenon which affects the University of Azuay (Cuenca - Ecuador). Multi-level analysis integrated with innovative monitoring techniques and geophysical analysis methods lay the foundations for greater accuracy for the prevention and prediction of such phenomen.