Landslide Simulation Model
Explore the Science Behind Landslides with This Interactive Web Game
This engaging online simulation allows you to explore how and why landslides occur by experimenting with a virtual hillside. Based on real-world physics, the game provides a hands-on way to understand the conditions that lead to slope failure.
Getting Started:
Begin by selecting a scenario. Use the Dump Truck tool to add soil, and the Shovel tool to remove it. The Magnifying Glass lets you examine any part of the terrain for details on saturation, slope, and stability. You can also place a House on the hillside and move it to different locations to test its safety.
Some things to think about:
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Can you create a stable, flat area on the hillside and safely place a house without triggering a landslide?
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What changes occur within the soil during rainfall?
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How do landslides affect soil thickness across different parts of the landscape?
Trouble Viewing the Simulation?
If the Landslide Simulation Model does not appear below, click here to open it in a new window.
How It Works
This model helps us understand how stable a hillside is by calculating something called the Factor of Safety at every point in the soil. Simply put, it compares the forces that keep the hillside in place (like gentle slopes, dry or tightly packed soil) to the forces that can cause a landslide (like steep slopes, heavy rains, or loose, wet soil).
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If the Factor of Safety is high (much greater than 1), the land is stable and not likely to slide.
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If it’s near or below 1, that area is unstable — and a landslide is more likely to happen.
In the Greater Cincinnati area, most hillsides sit on a thick layer of bedrock — about 200 feet deep — made up mostly of shale and limestone. Shale, in particular, breaks down quickly when it’s exposed to air and water, forming a weak layer of soil called colluvium. This layer, which can be anywhere from a few feet to 50 feet deep, is especially prone to erosion and sliding. In some valleys, you’ll also find soft lake clays, which can lead to landslides even on very gentle slopes.
Heavy rainfall and poor construction practices can make these natural conditions worse. Every year, landslides cause millions of dollars in damage throughout Greater Cincinnati — making it one of the most landslide-prone regions in the country.
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