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ISO publishes ISO 22327 giving guidelines for warning to landslides

ISO has now published ISO 22327 "Security and resilience - Emergency management - Guidelines for implementation of a community-based landslide early warning system"

Landslides are one of the most widespread and commonly occurring natural hazards. Landslides may occur in different types of topographic and geologic settings. The occurrence of landslides may increase significantly due to uncontrolled land use development and human interference onto unstable slopes.

In many countries, landslides cause substantial socio-economical losses. Landslide mitigation can be carried out both by structural and non-structural efforts. Structural mitigation includes adjustment of slope geometry, slope reinforcement, and protection and improvement of drainage systems, all of which can be very costly. The option of relocation is not always practical for residents living in areas prone to landslides. As a result, the most effective disaster risk reduction can be achieved by non-structural mitigation through improvement of the community’s preparedness and implementation of an early warning system.

The goal of a community-based landslide early warning system is to empower individuals and communities who are vulnerable to landslide hazard to act in sufficient time and in appropriate ways to reduce the possibility of injury, loss of life and damage to property and the environment. Demographic, social, economic and cultural aspects are most often left out in the implementation of early warning systems, compared to other technical aspects. Therefore, this guideline takes into account not only technical aspects, but also the role of the community and social aspects.

Key features of ISO 22327

The implementation of a community-based landslide early warning system is consistent with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction of 2015-2030. The fourth priority of the framework emphasizes the improvement of preparedness in order to respond effectively to a disaster, by implementing a simple, low-cost early warning system and improving the dissemination of information about early warning of landslide disaster at local, national, regional and global levels.

According to UN-ISDR (2006), a complete and effective early warning system consists of four interrelated key elements: (1) risk knowledge, (2) monitoring and warning service, (3) dissemination and communication, and (4) response capability.

How to purchase

ISO 22327:2018 Security and resilience - Emergency management -- Guidelines for implementation of a community-based landslide early warning system is available from ISO national member bodies. It may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat, respectively through the ISO Store or by contacting the Marketing, Communication & Information department.