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Analysis of institutional authors

Echarri, Francisco Javier TorrijoAuthor

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January 13, 2025
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Sustainable Management of Landslides in Ecuador: Leveraging Geophysical Surveys for Effective Risk Reduction

Publicated to: Sustainability. 16 (24): 10797- - 2024-01-01 16(24), DOI: 10.3390/su162410797

Authors:

Alonso-Pandavenes, Olegario; Torrijo, F.J.; Garzón-Roca, Julio
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Affiliations

Cent Univ Ecuador, Geol Min Petr & Ambiental Engn Fac FIGEMPA, Quito 170129, Ecuador - Author
Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Geol, Dept Geodynam GEODESPAL, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Valencia, Architecture Heritage & Management Sustainable Dev, Dept Geol & Geotech Engn, Valencia 46022, Spain - Author
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Abstract

The present work explores the use of geophysical surveys as valuable tools for the study and sustainable management of landslides, with a particular focus on Ecuador. As an Andean country, Ecuador's geomorphology and geology are dominated by volcano-sedimentary materials and processes, which confers a high susceptibility to landslides. In the last few years, a number of landslide events (such as those at La Josefina, Alaus & iacute;, and Chunchi) have given rise to disasters with significant material damage and loss of life. Climatic events, affected by climate change, earthquakes, and human activity, are the main landslide triggers. Geophysical surveys, like seismic refraction, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), are easy and low-cost techniques that provide valuable and critical subsurface data. They can help define the failure surface, delimit the mobilized materials, describe the internal structure, and identify the hydrological and geotechnical parameters that complement any direct survey (like boreholes and laboratory tests). As a result, they can be used in assessing landslide susceptibility and integrated into early warning systems, mapping, and zoning. Some case examples of large landslide events in Ecuador (historical and recent) are analyzed, showing how geophysical surveys can be a valuable tool to monitor landslides, mitigate their effects, and/or develop solutions. Combined or isolated geophysical techniques foster sustainable management, improve hazard characterization, help protect the most vulnerable regions, promote community awareness for greater safety and resilience against landslides, and support governmental actions and policies.
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Keywords

EcuadoEcuadorEffective risk managementGeophysicsLandslide hazardsSustainability

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Sustainability due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Geography, Planning and Development.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-02:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 4
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-02:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 37 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

    • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Ecuador.

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