The use of digital technologies for landslide disaster risk research and disaster risk management: progress and prospects

In the past few decades, digital technologies have played a more and more important role in landslide disaster risk management. To identify the progress and future directions with regard to the use of digital technologies in landslide disaster risk management, a systematic review of journal papers in the ISI Web of Science is conducted in this study. Findings indicate that in the early phase, landslide risk management research mainly focused on hazard evaluation and zonation. Then, studies about the spatial predictions of landslides and landslide susceptibility appeared. The research scale of landslides is developing from large scale to fine scale. The use of digital technologies in landslides has been widely discussed since 2009. The use of digital technologies has been developing in the directions of deep learning and artificial intelligence. The monitoring means has been gradually developing from high altitude to low altitude and to ground sensors. Processing technologies are the most widely used in landslide disaster risk research, followed by sensing technologies. Different types of digital technologies play different roles in landslide disaster management. Digital technologies account for a low proportion in the mitigation phase, but contribute the most in the disaster preparation phase. In the future, digital technologies can further strengthen mitigation for and responses to landslide disasters. The application of digital technologies in landslide disaster management should gradually adapt to the needs of the vulnerable group. The government should implement differentiated landslide disaster management according to the regional level of economic development and digital technology development. This study not only reviews the state of the latest technology, but also addresses the future trend of research and provides support for scientists and decision-makers involved in landslide disaster management.