Rain, slopes and the physics of failure
We study how rain turns slopes into hazards, from full-scale experiments to UAV and satellite monitoring, and turn physics and data into uncertainty-aware projections that communities can act on.
Research
Slope failure and debris flow
When and how rain-soaked slopes fail and how far the failed mass travels, from full-scale experiments and numerical models to debris-flow detection and risk.
Satellite and UAV remote sensing
Satellites, UAVs and 3D point clouds that capture slope change and disaster damage, including sensing that keeps working in heavy rain.
Large-scale rainfall experiments and extreme rainfall
Full-scale tests of slopes, vegetation, sensors and robots under rainfall of up to 300 mm/h, and analysis of extreme rainfall events.
International collaborationMalaysia · Norway · Taiwan · United States · Vietnam
Latest news
The lab now publishes news, research and openings in English and Japanese.
能登半島地震から1年 ANN報道特番
Where we experiment
Much of our experimental work takes place at the Large-Scale Rainfall Experiment Facility of NIED in Tsukuba, where full-size slopes, sensors, drones and ground robots can be tested under controlled heavy rain.
- Rainfall area
- 3,000m²
- Maximum rainfall intensity
- 300mm/h