Impact of climate change on natural terrain stability and infrastructure integrity: Insights and case studies from Colombia

Abstract

Climate change often leads to increased precipitations and thus affects natural terrain stability, leading to landslides and infrastructure damage. Infrastructure failure causes economic losses, societal disruption, and hampers emergency response and recovery efforts. For example, a significant challenge to the stability of natural slopes is the intensification of heavy precipitation events due to climate change. Increased precipitation rates can intensify soil erosion and soil saturation, resulting in increased instability and a higher risk of slope failure. This work consolidates current insights derived from practical engineering based on detailed investigation as well as rigorous research on the interplay between climate change, land-use changes, geomorphological characteristics, and their collective influence on slope stability, landslides, and infrastructure integrity. Two case studies from South America are presented to analyze such effect of climate change. Collaboration between civil engineering and climate disciplines, foremost meteorology along with predictive risk management, is essential for sustainable infrastructure in evolving climates.