ABSTRACT
The assessment of landslide risk is a very complex task based on a sequence of acts that in recent times has reached a nearly definitive level of standardization. Nevertheless, some of the steps of the procedure are far from reliability and applicability to practical cases. Landslide mapping and data-base implementing are at a high level of precision, updating and ease of handling, as the great capabilities of GIS can fully express their potential in this field. The evaluation of hazard, including the temporal dimension, is in stead far from the desired level, as to model the occurrence of landslides, the complete geotechnical model of the slope must be thoroughly known, a condition that rarely applies, and if theoretically possible. it is hampered by its high cost. In addition, several constraints on the study of landsliding render the assessment of the probability of failure still uncertain. Some of these constraints are discussed and some of the new technologies to overcome them are introduced and discussed. Further problems for the risk evaluation are posed by the assessment of the vulnerability of elements at risk, a topic in which standardization is urgent. The Italy’s way of facing the problem of landslide management at the nation’s scale is introduced as a case of changing policy to respond to the pressure of the events. Then, the contributions on Theme 1 of the First European Conference on Landsides are introduced and matters arising from the various suggestions are briefly discussed.
