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Deformation Monitoring and Geohazards in Nigeria: a Critical Review

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Deformation Monitoring and Geohazards in Nigeria: a Critical Review International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705 Deformation Monitoring and Geohazards in Nigeria: A Critical Review K. O. Ishola, P.A. Jegede Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Abstract:- Geohazards are geological and environmental due to plate tectonics. As noted by Chen et al (2017), different conditions that involve long-term or short-term geological types of geological hazards occur through different processes. It occur when artificial structures, such as buildings mechanisms. Even when the same types of hazard occur in and natural structures, such as slopes are deformed in various different internal geological structures, the causes and ways. To achieve the aim of this study which is to is to facilitate characteristics of the environmental external terrain conditions comprehensive technical understanding and knowledge of the processes of monitoring geological hazards and to better of the hazard can differ. MARI (2017) therefore asserted that appraise their impacts on engineering structures and the geohazards include: earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, environment with a view to providing mitigation strategy, in ground motion, tsunamis, floods, droughts, meteorite impacts order to achieve the stated objective, secondary data sourced and health hazards of geologic materials. Spatial scales can from dailies, reports internet and other relevant research works range from local events such as a rock slide or coastal erosion were used. Having studied the state of geohazard and to events that pose threats to humankind such as a great deformation monitoring control Nigeria as well as mitigation volcano or meteorite impact. approaches to geohazards. The study concluded that the monitoring or control surveys serve not only the purpose of Geological hazards are natural phenomena that cause major providing information on geometrical deviations at the surface of problems where they occur. However, the expansion and the investigated object but also become a tool for physical development of cities may lead to an increase in impact and interpretation of the deformation. damage due to geological hazards. Hence, detecting early Key Words: Geohazard, Deformation Monitoring, Geotechnics, indications of geohazards and monitoring their changing Risk, Structures, Tectonic status are effective ways of managing and abating their impacts. In particular, monitoring the progressive deformation I. INTRODUCTION of slopes can be a crucial factor in preventing landslides he term ―geohazard‖ often used by the geologists and (MARI, 2017), can help in minimizing their impacts. The T engineers to describe the hazards that maybe associated objective of this work therefore is to facilitate comprehensive with any potential gravity-related geological or geotechnical technical understanding and knowledge of the processes of problem or failure, such as slope instabilities, landslides, monitoring geological hazards and to better appraise their ground settlements and many others (Psarropoulos et al, impacts on engineering structures and the environment. Apart 2012).Simply, geohazard denotes geological hazard, which from contributing to public safety. It is projected that, implies a geological state that may lead to widespread damage deformation monitoring and hazard assessment will enhance or risk. Geohazards are geological and environmental fundamental scientific understanding on the processes conditions that involve long-term or short-term geological involved in the monitoring geological hazards. This paper processes. Geohazards can be relatively small features, but therefore presents a suggestion to a quantitative model for they can also attain big magnitudes such as submarine or geohazard data portal with particular reference to the Nigeria surface landslide that may to a large extent affect local and situation. regional socio-economy. Evidently, geohazards are the result 1.1. Background to the Study of a dynamic process of environmental change (Huang, 2012), that can result into huge ecological disasters that threaten Many of the disasters caused by natural hazards originate human life and property (Chen et al, 2017). Similarly, Moore from geohazards, such as earthquakes, volcano eruptions, & Davies (2006) also noted that geohazards are geological landslides, and tsunamis (Marsh & GTT, 2004).Geohazards materials, features or processes that represent commercial and could cause huge anthropological and economic losses and safety risks for development and for the environment. disruption (Tomás & Li, 2017).Recent earthquakes which then triggered a tsunami in Greece and Turkey which registered a Hence, geohazards occur when artificial structures, such as 6.7 magnitude on the richter scale, having over 40 aftershocks buildings and natural structures, such as slopes are deformed from the initial larger earthquake that continued to shake the in various ways. In actual sense, geohazards such as island of Kos and southwest Turkey (Nace, 2017), painfully earthquakes and volcanoes would not happen if there no reminded the world of the destructive impact of seismic rupture in geological fault. The theory of continental drift events and the importance of the availability of reliable explains more of how the continents have moved over time earthquake risk information. Indeed, most of the African www.rsisinternational.org Page 129 International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705 countries are challenged by a multitude of natural and earthquake occurrence, skills development in engineering anthropogenic hazards and disasters such as: landslides, geology, public awareness. volcanic activities, earthquakes, and mining activities among iii. Equipment: vehicles, equipment for field surveying, others. These disasters have claimed thousands of lives, monitoring and early warning (sensors and accessories, devastated homes and destroyed livelihoods. With more than seismic stations) 40% of the population living below the poverty line, Sub- iv. Mapping: With the knowledge of science, hazard maps Saharan Africa is also the least equipped and prepared can be created to estimate the probability of an continent to cope with the impacts of these events (ICSU, earthquake producing a particular level of ground shaking 2007). As Shlütter(2006) stated, in 24 of the 56 African in a particular period of time, and then take steps to countries geohazards inventory has not been made. mitigate the associated risk (ODI, 2016), products of earth observation (digital elevation models (DEM), laser Deformation studies cover a broad spectrum of applications scanning data (LIDAR)), remote sensing data (SPOT ranging from the study of crustal deformation or tectonic imagery) for a country-wide geohazard mapping, active movements, glacier and shelf ice movements at global or faults mapping, etc. regional scale, to the deformation monitoring of engineered or v. Inventory: identification of hotspot areas. Comprehensive natural structures such as dams, bridges, tunnels, landslides, hazard maps have enabled scientists to assess the etc. at local scale (Caspary 2000).The importance of earthquake risk. deformation studies cannot be underestimated. Basically, engineering structures are subject of deformation due to II. CONCEPTUAL ISSUES factors such as changes of ground water level, tectonic 2.1 Risk Management Cycle: Geohazards Mitigation and phenomena and human activities (Eroet al, 2005).The Geotechnics monitoring or control surveys serve not only the purpose of providing information on geometrical deviations at the surface Undeniably, risk management of structural projects extends of the investigated object but also become a tool for physical beyond simply setting out systems and procedures. Risk interpretation of the deformation. The role of the monitoring management is not a one-off event and should be seen as an surveys extends into the explanation of causes of unexpected ongoing process that will arise out of monitoring and deformation and their consequent impacts on the safety and assessment. The controls identified to mitigate the risks must economy as well as environmental effects (Szostak- be capable of implementation, and the implementation should Chrzanowski et al, 2005).The safety of large engineering be consciously and appropriately monitored (Kaplan & Mikes, structures requires monitoring of deformation patterns of these 2012). Risk management procedures must be sufficiently structures such as dams, bridges and high-rise buildings is flexible and responsive to ensure that new risks are addressed essential for the development of nation. However, under as they arise. They should also involve periodic checks in excessive loading, such as building or structures are subjected order to identify new risks proactively and ensure that the to deformation, potentially causing loss of lives and properties approach to risk management remains fit for purpose. As (Kalkanet al,2010) alluded by Plag et al (2010), the concept of the risk management cycle with: mitigation and preparedness, early Monitoring landslides for example is a crucial task to warning, response and recovery phases captures the steps understand the mechanisms, adopt preventive measures and necessary to reduce the amount and scale of disasters. reduce casualties and infrastructure damage (Angeli et al, According to Lucini (2014)
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