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Landslides are a massive problem within the Appalachians causing large amounts of damage, and even loss of life. Urban development on the hill slope further destabilizes slope and accelerates failure. The objective of this project is to examine the slope stability condition at an urban community in eastern Tennessee and assess the relative risk in the area. The first step included a digital survey of the area by collecting all available soil, geology, elevation, watershed, slope, drainage condition, stream, and building footprint data. This data was collected from a multitude of sources including but not limited to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) and Tennessee State Government resources. After this a process of field verification was required to confirm the validity of acquired digital data. This field verification process included four separate trips that aimed to access the extent of damage, slope condition, bedrock geology, and soil information. The data collected from the previous digital survey and field verification trips were used to prepare a landslide hazard prediction map using Weighted Overlay method in ArcGIS Pro software. To validate the accuracy of the hazard map, an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) drone survey will be completed in April 2023. A final Slope Stability Hazard Map will be produced for the urban community and the report will be shared with the community members. The result indicated that both the soil and geology reports were spatially inaccurate as the entirety of urban development was constructed on Sevier Shale Formation, whereas Knox Formation appears on the map. The slope and hill shade information were correct including the identification of a road that was uncompleted that undercut a steep slope. After our first survey the maps were combined and weighted in a “Weighted Overlay map” with slope, curvature, and stream data to make a map that showed likely areas of risk. The study area contains multiple areas with high slope instability risk. These areas are steep slopes as high as 51° and weathered shale with a lack of vegetation that has been undercut by a roadway that was unfinished. Other areas of high concern with clear evidence of slope sliding are present with the movement of supportive foundation beams. Signs of cracking and sliding have been spotted within the road leading to some of the housing complexes. This information will then be compared to a UAS drone survey to create a final Slope Stability Hazard Map. The urban community can plant vegetation, divert storm water, keep the slope dry, and reduce overburden pressure on the slopes to reduce further movement. Costly engineering structures like slope anchors, soil nails, and retaining walls are possible solutions and could help to support the steep and overburdened slopes.

In-ground slope monitoring is an essential part of landslide early warning systems. Precise movement data from borehole monitors can detect emerging hazards near critical infrastructure. Typically, monitoring is done with inclinometers, but lower-cost alternatives have emerged which have yet to be tested in Tennessee. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) records magnitudes and depths of movements along a buried coaxial cable. When paired with a remote data logger, TDR can wirelessly transmit high resolution movement data in real time, making it promising for landslide early warning systems. Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has proposed a one-year feasibility study to test TDR for use in unstable soil slopes near highways. The study area is a well-known landslide site along Interstate 40 in Roane County, TN. Careful siting of borehole instrumentation is crucial for accurate monitoring. The goal of this study is to optimize TDR installation, with three specific aims: (i) evaluate landslide morphology, (ii) pinpoint locations and depths with greatest movement, and (iii) assess spatiotemporal patterns across the site. Statistical analysis of prior data from 13 inclinometers showed ongoing slope movement over the 21-acre complex landslide. Spatial interpolation suggested an asymmetrical failure surface with both shallow and deep motion. Space-time cube analysis indicated varying movement rates and timing across the site, suggesting separate landslide bodies. Based on these results, three optimal borehole depths and locations were proposed for TDR instruments. This analysis will ensure accuracy in tests of TDR for early warning system feasibility in Tennessee.

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