[03/25] Dr Ellen Robson (IHRR PDRA) has published a new article in NHESS on ‘A participatory approach to determine the use of road cut slope design guidelines in Nepal to lessen landslides’ co-authored by Dr Bhim Kumar Dahal (Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal) and Prof David Toll (Emeritus Professor, Durham University).
Road cut slope failures are a type of landslide process and are extensive across the road network of Nepal. In response to the pressing need for improved road cut slope design guidelines to help prevent these failures, this study employs a participatory approach to assess the use of the current guidelines in Nepal and identify critical areas for enhancement to inform the development of new guidelines. Participants in this research included local and federal government engineers, consultants, and academics. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data was conducted. Findings reveal significant inconsistency in guideline adherence, attributed to their lack of user-friendliness, inconsistent recommendations, and inadequate training for engineers. Engineers at local levels often resort to empirical methods when designing cut slopes due to constraints such as land acquisition difficulties. To address these challenges, the development of contextually appropriate guidelines that prioritize simplicity, accessibility, and practicality for field application is proposed. In addition, policymakers need to set protocols and standards for key road slope management processes, including land acquisition and compensation, quality assurance checks, and spoil disposal, and provide incentives to encourage high levels of compliance. Through these measures, this study aims to lessen road cut slope failures in Nepal, thereby enhancing the resilience of the road network.
Article:
Robson, E. B., Dahal, B. K., and Toll, D. G.: A participatory approach to determine the use of road cut slope design guidelines in Nepal to lessen landslides, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 949–973, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-949-2025, 2025.
Photo credit:
Figure 1, Robson et al (2025)
Photos of road cut slope failures in Nepal at (a) the Kulekhani–Pharping feeder road in the Makwanpur district (photo taken in November 2019) and (b) the Charikhot–Jiri road in the Dolakha district (photo taken in November 2023).
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