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Department of Geography

Staff Profile

Professor Dave Petley, BSc (Hons) AKC PhD FRGS FGS ILTM CGeog

Professor, Co-Director - Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience in the Department of Geography
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 41909
Fax: +44 (0) 191 33 41801
Room number: 234

(email at d.n.petley@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

My research interests lie primarily in the understading of landslides and landslide mechanics, especially in high mountain areas within less developed countries. To this end, I established and am director of the International Landslide Centre, see: http://www.landslidecentre.org/

More specific details of my research areas are as follows:

1 Material deformation processes
I am interested in a range of issues associated with deformation, including compaction of rocks (especially near-surface compaction of soft sediments), drained and undrained shear behaviour; the brittle-ductile transition in mudrocks; strain dependent behaviour during shear deformation; mechanisms of fracture generation and growth; accelerating patterns of behaviour; new techniques for deformation analysis; subsidence analysis and modelling; and material deformation controls on natural systems.
To this end I have developed the geotechnical laboratory at the Department of Geography to become a cutting-edge facility.

2 Landslide mechanics and landslide hazard and risk assessment
I am very interested in understanding the ways in which first time failures develop. I also have strong interests in various other aspects of landslides, including terrain evaluation and mapping; triggering mechanisms; frequency? magnitude relationships; runout mechanisms and processes; vulnerability analysis for mountain communities; landslide hazard and risk mapping; hill slope hydrological mechanisms; analysis of future patterns of movement; volcanic flank collapse; deep-seated landslide processes; topographic amplification during seismic events; landslide mechanics during intense precipitation; landslide dating; landslide modelling.

3 Remote sensing technology for earth surface mapping
I have a strong interest in the use of remote sensing, especially with respect to landslide mapping / monitoring and movement assessment. More specific interests include: the application of ATM technology to landslide delineation; terrestrial digital photogrammetry, airborne digital photogrammetry; digital elevation model extraction for airborne and terrestrial imagery; high resolution multispectral imaging; SAR interferometry for horizontal and vertical movement analysis; laser scanning for process delineation and monitoring; the integration of multiple datasets.

A (reasonably!) full, up to date CV can be found at: http://www.landslidecentre.org/petleycv.pdf

I maintain a blog of landslide and rockfall events happening worldwide, including maps of the locations of fatal events at: http://daveslandslideblog.blogspot.com/

Research Groups

Research Projects

Research Interests

  • Landslide hazard and risk assessment
  • Landslide mechanics and processes
  • Landslide monitoring
  • Material deformation

Selected Publications

Journal papers: academic

  • Petley. D.N. Global patterns of loss of life from landslides. Geology. 2012;40:927-930
  • Brain, M.J., Long, A.J, Woodroffe, S.A., Petley, D.N., Milledge, D.G. & Parnell, A.C. Modelling the effects of sediment compaction on salt marsh reconstructions of recent sea-level rise. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2012;345-348:180-193.
  • Brain, M.J., Long, A.J., Petley, D.N., Horton, B.P. & Allison, R.J. Compression behaviour of minerogenic low energy intertidal sediments. Sedimentary Geology. 2011;233:28 - 41.
  • Lin, G.W., Chen, H., Petley, D.N., Horng, M.J., Wu, S.J. & Chuang, B. Impact of rainstorm-triggered landslides on high turbidity in a mountain reservoir. Engineering Geology. 2011;117:97-103.
  • Lim, M., Rosser, N.J., Petley, D.N. & Keen, M. Quantifying the Controls and Influence of Tide and Wave Impacts on Coastal Rock Cliff Erosion. Journal of Coastal Research. 2011;27:46-56.
  • Lim, M., Rosser, N.J., Allison, R. & Petley, D.N. Erosional processes in the hard rock coastal cliffs at Staithes, North Yorkshire. Geomorphology. 2010;114:12-21.
  • Malamud, B. & Petley, D.N. Lost in Translation. Public Service Review: Science and Technology. 2009;2:164-169.
  • Petley, D.N. On the impact of urban landslides. Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publications. 2009;22:83-99.
  • Ng, K-Y. & Petley, D.N. The use of pore pressure reinflation testing in landslide management in Hong Kong. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 2009;42:487-498.
  • Rosser, N.J., Lim, M., Petley, D.N. D & Dunning, S.A. Patterns of precursory rockfall prior to slope failure. Journal of Geophysical Research (Earth Surface). 2007;112:F04014.
  • Rosser, N.J., Lim, M., Petley, D.N., Dunning, S. & Allison, R. Patterns of precursory rockfall prior to slope failure. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface. 2007;112.
  • Petley, D.N., Hearn, G.J., Hart, A., Rosser, N.J., Dunning, S.A., Oven, K. & Mitchell, W.A. Trends in landslide occurence in Nepal. Natural Hazards. 2007;43:23-44.
  • Ramli, M. F. & Petley, D. N. Best band combination for landslide studies in temperate environments. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 2006;27:1219-1231.
  • Bulmer, M. H., Petley, D. N., Murphy, W. & Mantovani, F. Detecting slope deformation using two-pass differential interferometry: Implications for landslide studies on Earth and other planetary bodies. Journal of Geophysical Research. 2006;111:E06S16.
  • Chia-Hung, J., Lin, J-C., Hsu, M-L. & Petley, D. N. Fluvial transportation and sedimentation of the Fu-Shan small experimental catchments. Quaternary International. 2006;147:34-43.
  • Dunning, S. A., Rosser, N. J., Petley, D. N. & Massey, C. R. Formation and failure of the Tsatichhu landslide dam, Bhutan. Landslides. 2006;3:107-113.
  • Lin, J-C., Petley, D. N., Jen, C-H. & Hsu, M-L. Slope movements in a dynamic environment - A case study of Tachia river, Central Taiwan. Quaternary International. 2006;147:103-112.
  • Petley, D.N. The Vajont (Vaiont) Landslide. Geo-strata. 2006.
  • Lim, M., Petley, D.N., Rosser, N.J., Allison, R.J., Long, A.J. & Pybus, D. Combined digital photogrammetry and time-of-flight laser scanning for monitoring cliff evolution. The Photogrammetric Record. 2005;20:109-129.
  • Petley, D.N., Higuchi, T., Petley, D.J., Bulmer, M.H. & Carey, J. Development of progressive landslide failure in cohesive materials. Geology. 2005;33:201-204.
  • Ramli, M. F. & Petley, D. N. Image filtering of airborne thematic mapper or landslide delineation. Ultra Scientist of Physical Sciences. 2005;17:221-228.
  • Sepulveda, S., Murphy, W., Jibson, R. W. & Petley, D. N. Seismically-induced Rock Slope Failures Resulting from Topographic Amplification of Strong Ground Motions: The Case of Pacoima Canyon, California. Engineering Geology. 2005;80:336-348.
  • Rosser, N. J., Petley, D. N., Lim, M., Dunning, S. A. & Allison, R. J. Terrestrial laser scanning for monitoring the process of hard rock coastal cliff erosion. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 2005;38:363-376.
  • Chen, H. & Petley, D. N. The impact of landslides and debris flows triggered by Typhoon Mindulle in Taiwan. Quaterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 2005;38:301-304.
  • Petley, D.N., Mantovani, F., Bulmer, M.H. & Zannoni, A. The use of surface monitoring data for the interpretation of landslide movement patterns. Geomorphology. 2005;66:133-147.
  • Sepulveda, S. A., Murphy, W., Jibson, R. W. & Petley, D. N. Topographic controls on co-seismic rock slides during the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 2005;38:189-196.
  • Petley, D.N. Tsunami - how an earthquake can cause destruction thousands of kilometres away. Geography Review. 2005;18:2-5.
  • Kemeling, I., Scott, I.M., Petley, D.N., Rosser, N.J., Allison, R J. & Long, A.J. Data driven modelling of a complex mining subsidence process. Proceedings of the SPIE International Symposium on Remote Sensing, Masplalomas Gran Ganaria. 2004;September 2004.
  • Kemeling, I. & Petley, D.N. Radar interferometry to monitor slow surface deformation in rural England. Proceedings of the European Space Agency ENVISAT and ERS symposium, Salzburg. 2004;September 2004.
  • Petley, D.N. Slip-sliding Away. Planet Earth (NERC). 2004;Winter 2004:26-27.
  • Petley, D. The evolution of slope failures: mechanisms of rupture propagation. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 2004;4:147-152.
  • N.J. Rosser, M. Lim & D.N. Petley The use of terrestrial laser scanning for the monitoring of coastal cliff processes. Proceedings of the International Lidar Mapping Forum. 2004;February 2004.
  • A.J. Wilson, D.N. Petley & W. Murphy Down-slope variation in geotechnical parameters and pore fluid control on a large-scale Alpine landslide. Geomorphology. 2003;54:49-62.
  • C.R.J. Kilburn & D.N. Petley Forecasting giant, catastrophic slope collapse: lessons from Vajont, Northern Italy. Geomorphology. 2003;54:21-32.
  • Hearn, G. J. & Petley, D. N. Landslide risk assessment for road planning and management in developing countries. Earthworks. 2003;17:6-7.
  • F. Ramli & D. Petley Morphological mapping: it's subjectivity and application to the delineation of relict landslides. Science Putra Malaysia. 2002;10:22-26.
  • Petley, D.N., Bulmer, M.H. & Murphy, W. Patterns of movement in rotational and translational landslides. Geology. 2002;30:719-722.
  • W. Murphy, D.N. Petley, J. Bommer & J.M. Mankelow Uncertainty in ground motion estimates for the evaluation of slope stability during earthquakes. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 2002;35:71-78.
  • R. Inkpen & D. Petley Fitness spaces and their potential for visualizing change in the physical landscape. Area. 2001;33:242-251.

Journal papers: popular

Books: authored

  • Smith, K. & Petley, D.N. Environmental Hazards. Routledge; 2009.
  • D. Petley Landslide Hazard and risk assessment techniques - a review. 2001.
  • D. Petley Landslide hazard and risk assessments - A definitive scheme. 2001.

Books: sections

  • Petley, D.N. Landslide Hazards. In: Alcántara-Ayala, I. & Goudie, A. Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster Prevention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2010:63-74.
  • Petley, D.N. The Continental Shelf and Slope. In: Burt, T.P. & Allison, R.J. Sediment Cascades an integrated approach. Chichester: Wiley; 2010:433-448.
  • Petley, D. N., Dunning, S. A., Rosser, N. J. & Kausar, A. B. Incipient earthquakes in the Jhelum Valley, Pakistan following the 8th October 2005 earthquake. In: Marui, H. Frontiers of Science. Yokyo: Universal Academy Press; 2006:47-56.
  • Petley, D. N. & Petley, D. J. On the initiation of large rockslides: perspectives from a new analysis on the Vaiont movement record. In: Mugnozza, G., Strom, A. & Hermanns, R. L. Massive Rock Slope Failure. Rotterdam: NATO; 2006.
  • Petley, D. N., Higuchi, T., Dunning, S., Rosser, N. J., Petely, D. J., Bulmer, M. H. K. & Carey, J. A new model for the development of movement in progressive landslides. In: Hungr, O., Fell, R., Couture, R. & Eberhardt, E. Landslide Risk Management. Amsterdam: Balkema; 2005.
  • Petley, D. N., Dunning, S. A. & Rosser, N. J The analysis of global landslide risk through the creation of a database of worldwide landslide fatalities. In: Hungr, O., Fell, R., Couture, R. & Eberhardt, E. Landslide Risk Management. Amsterdam: Balkema; 2005.
  • Rosser, N. J., Dunning, S. A., Lim, M. & Petley, D. N. The application of a terrestrial laser scanning technique for quantitative rockfall hazard assessment. In: Hungr, O., Fell, R., Couture, R. & Eberhardt, E. Landslide Risk Management. Amsterdam: Balkema; 2005.
  • Dunning, S. A., Petley, D. N. & Strom, A. L. The morphologies and sedimentology of valley confined rock-avalanche deposits and their effect on potential dam hazard. In: Hungr, O., Fell, R., Couture, R. & Eberhardt, E. Landslide Risk Management. Amsterdam: Balkema; 2005:601-704.
  • Petley, D. N., Hearn, G. J. & Hart, A. Towards the development of a landslide risk assessment for urual roads in Nepal. In: Glade, T., Anderson, M. & Crozier, M. J. Landslike hazard and risk. Chichester: Wiley; 2005:597-620.
  • Inkpen, R. J., Petley, D. & Murphy, W. Durability and rock properties. In: Smith, B. J. & Turkington, A. V. Stone decay: Its causes and controls. Shaftesbury: 2004:33-52.
  • S.A. Sepulveda, W. Murphy & D. Petley The role of topographic amplification on the generation of earthquake-induced rock slope failures. In: W.A. Lacerda, M. Ehrlich, S.A.B. Fontoura & S.F. Sayao Landslides: Evaluation and Stabilization. Balkema; 2004:311-315.
  • M.H.K. Bulmer, F. Mantovani, W. Murphy & D. Petley SAR interferometry in landslide monitoring; experiences from Black Ven landslide, Dorset 2001. In: D. Delahaye, F. Levoy & O. Maquaire Geomorphology: the Expert Opinion to Modelling. Strasbourg; 2002:21-27.
  • D. Petley The use of terrain evaluation for hazard assessment in Eastern Taiwan. In: J. Griffiths Land Surface Evaluation for Engineering Practice. Engineering Geology Special Publications; 2001:209-213.

Show all publications

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

  • General issues: natural hazards
  • Asia (excluding Middle East): Taiwan, Hong Kong, Nepal, Bhutan
  • Geological hazards: landslides
  • Geological hazards: typhoons and hurricanes

Grants Awarded

  • 2004: NERC: The development of progressive failure in cohesive landslides (£12,200)
  • 2004: Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council: Geomorphological processes, Skinningrove, Cleveland (£22,000)
  • 2004: Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick Ltd: The use of terrestrial laser scanning for slope characterisation
  • 2004: Shetland Council / Halcrow Ltd: Deformation processes governing slides in peat deposits
  • 2003: BBC / Crown Castle Ltd: Cliff process monitoring, Whitby
  • 2003: Benefactor: The establishment of the International Landslide Centre at the University Of Durham (£212,000)
  • 2003: British Embassy Nepal: Seismically-induced landslides along the Kathmandu access roads, Nepal
  • 2003: ESA: The use of radar interferometry in surface deformation monitoring
  • 2002: Cleveland Potash Ltd. (with Professor R.J. Allison and Dr A.J. Long). Subsidence and coastal processes (£301,000 inc 2 PhD studentships & 1 PDRA).
  • 2002: European Union Asia-Link programme (with the University of Sannio Italy and Tribhuvan University Nepal). Land-Man - developing a new curriculum for landslide management (EURO268,000).
  • 2000: DfiD KaR (with Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick PLC) Landslide risk assessment in the rural access sector (£540,000).

Supervises