Geological Hazards

Natural hazards cost the global economy over $50,000 million per year. Two thirds of this is spent on damage repair, the remainder represents the cost of predicting, preventing and mitigating against disasters. Man-made hazards such as groundwater pollution, subsidence and soil erosion add to this figure.Geological Hazards is the first book to consider both natural and man-made disasters in a single volume. All major geological hazards are examined, including:· volcanic activity· earthquakes· mass movements, soil creep, landslides· problem soils such as quicksands and expansive clays· river, marine, wind action and control· soil erosion and desertification· waste and its disposal· landfill and gas formation· contaminated land· groundwater pollution· subsidence· abandoned mine workings and shaftsGeological Hazards presents a state-of-the art survey for students on civil engineering and physical geography courses, as well as researchers and practicing civil engineers. It examines methods of assessing, evaluating and combatting hazards, both natural and man-made. Richly illustrated, it views the subject from an international perspective.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction, Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.