1.

Reasons for choosing the topic

Recently, landslide is an alarmingly important issue which causes extensive damage to

human life and property, especially in rough terrain areas like Lao Cai Province. Whereas,
the system of Hydrometeorological stations and rain-gauging stations of Lao Cai
Hydrometeorology currently does not meet the sign warning requirements of natural
disasters, due mainly to degraded and backward technology. Therefore, we came up with
the idea of designing a warning system for landslides in the mountainous areas in Lao Cai
province, using straightforward technologies to put out earliest and accurate warnings.

2. Scientific hypothesis

* Landslides occur when the equilibrium conditions of large masses of rocks, soil, mud
and organic debris are destroyed. This change depends on a group of factors:

+ The reduced durability of the heavy water-laden slope materials (soil, rock, etc.).
+ Stress-strained state on slopes is changed adversely
+ Slope instability caused by changes of physical state
* Other causes:
Loss of plant structure- which helps maintain soil alignment; slope erosion by rivers, sea
waves or human action ; weaken the slopes by saturation of soil moisture. Earthquakes
increase the load on slopes in a nearly stable state or cause soil liquefaction to destabilize
the slopes.
Each of aforementioned causes can trigger the imbalance of the rock masses on the
slopes, but often owing to simultaneous effects of some of these causes.
Gradient of slope Below 150 From 150 to 250 From 250 to 350 Above 350
The odds of landslide Low Average High Excessive
3. Scientific foundation
Through historical research of landslides in Lao Cai province, landslides often occur in
areas with steep terrain, weak soil alignment, natural geology is affected by terraced
fields, soil excavation to create talus with sheer steepness, etc. in heavy rain conditions,
concentrated in a short time. Specifying:
- Rainfall when landslides occur

Rainfall by Rainfall Rainfall Rainfall

Date Place
day before : 2 days before:3 days before : 5 days
06/07/2000 0 0 0 0
07/07/2000 0 0 0 0
08/07/2000 0 0 0 0
09/07/2000 8.53 0 0 0
10/07/2000 Sa Pa - 19.91 8.53 8.53 8.53
11/07/2000 Lao Cai 68.28 28.44 28.44 28.44
12/07/2000 71.2 88.19 96.72 96.72
13/07/2000 50 139.48 159.39 167.92
14/07/2000 80.13 121.2 189.48 217.92
15/07/2000 68.28 130.13 201.33 289.52
16/07/2000 14.22 148.41 198.41 337.89
17/07/2000 19.91 82.5 162.63 283.83
29/08/2013 0 0 0 0
30/08/2013 0 0 0 0
31/08/2013 0 0 0 0
01/09/2013 Ban 0 0 0 0
02/09/2013 Khoang, 0 0 0 0
03/09/2013 Sa Pa 0 0 0 0
04/09/2013 154 0 0 0
05/09/2013 25.11 154 154 154
06/09/2013 0 179.11 179.11 179.11
20/06/2018 0 0 0 0
21/06/2018 0 0 0 0
22/06/2018 0 0 0 0
23/06/2018 23.89 0 0
QL 4D
24/06/2018 58.85 23.89 23.89 23.89
Sa Pa
25/06/2018 133.28 82.74 82.74 82.74
26/06/2018 88.63 192.13 216.02 216.02
27/06/2018 25.15 221.91 280.76 304.65
28/06/2018 5.59 113.78 247.06 329.8

Based on the results of monitoring rainfall, landslides occurred at the time of proplonged
heavy rain or excessive downpour, rainfall accumulation in 3 days reached from 200 to
300mm.
- Topography: High mountainous terrain interspersed with low divided hills. Mountain
terrain is predominant, with the height of 500 metres and over, and occupies 70% ground
of the province, mountain terrain higher than 1000 metres occupies 35%. Areas with a
slope of over 25o account for 80% of the province's area; mountainous terrain has an
elevation of 45o - 90o.

- Properties and soil types of Lao Cai Province : appoximately 30 types.

+ Red – yellow feralit soil accounts for 40% of the whole natural ground , this type
has thick weathered crust, porous and airy soil, acid soil, easily degraded.
+ Alit humus occupies 11% of the province’s land, where forest watersheds are
well-protected.
According to the analysis, feralite soil and alitous humus on the mountain have the
mechanical composition of soil contains a high proportion of sand, thus having a weak
alignment.
- We choose the location to locate pressure sensor on the ground of 1.8-2.5m below
the soil surface, this is the top soil layer, with the highest porosity and instability, therefore
any geographic incident will mostly impact this land layer. At this location it will usually
be under pressure from the upper layer of the soil: Pressure = 10 x Dsoil.
Hill soil has a density of about 1,1 – 1,2 g/cm3 or 1100-1200 kg/m3. As the sensor
is placed 2 metres deeper from the surface, so the usual pressure ranges from 2200-2400
kg/m3.
Therefore, the usual pressure of the sensor is 22000 - 24000 N / m2, the sensor surface is
5cm2 wide, the usually measured pressure is (22000-24000) / 10000 * 5 = 11-12 N / cm2 .
Considering the soil, the porosity = 55.55% means that in 1m3 of soil, when the soil
is saturated by 100%, the volume will increase by 555.5 kg. While below 2m of soil, the
volume increases by 1111 kg. However, when the soil is inundated by about 70%, the soil
structure is ragged and there is a risk of landslide. At that time, the volume increases by
about 777.7 kg. Water pressure= 7777 N/m2  Pressured applied on the sensor increase:
7777/10000*5= 3,89 N/cm2 .
We have the following table showing the pressure on the sensor. Unit: N/cm2.
Safety Degree Dangerous Degree Excessive Dangerous Degree
<11 <= 11+3,89 >11+3,89
4. Solution
a) Devices:
- Rain gauge.
- Acceleration sensor (ground displacement measurement) MPU 6050
- Modul Loadcell type soil pressure gauge 611N 10Kg
- Modul SIM900A mini for signal transmission
- Device that gives warning signal: Speaker and warning sign on traffic
- Server at Centre for Hydro - Meteorological Forecasting
b) Diagram:

c) General estimates:
+ Using rainfall measuring device: Accurately measuring the rainfall during the day.
+ Using pressure sensors helps to assess the increase of soil pressure due to the increase of
water volume in the soil.
5. Block diagram

6. Operating principle
- Devices: Rain gauge, acceleration sensors , sensor for continuous pressure measurement,
measuring data storage and sending parameters to server located at weather station via
module sim. These devices are attached to the pillar, buried in a place at risk of landslides.
The device uses a 5V power supply, a solar battery and an electrical component to store
electricity,ensuring that the device operates continuously.
- Warning degrees:
+ Safety degree: The warning signal on the road is displayed in green and the interface is
yellow.
+ Dangerous degree: The warning signal on the road is displayed in yellow and the
interface is shown in red, giving a notice on the loudspeaker reminding people of be on
alert of landslides.
+ Excessively dangerous degree : The warning signal on the traffic road is displayed in red
and the interface flashes red continuously, giving a notice on the loudspeaker forcing
people and vehicles to stop and urgently leave the area at risk of landslides; at the same
time, simultaneously informing authorities to promptly rescue.
+ When a landslide occurs, the device loses the signal to the center. The center itself
appears on the machine interface is the location that has been eroded so that the authorities
can take timely measures to rescue and aid that area.
7. Conclusion
The system has performed functions according to the proposed criteria: Measuring
parameters of rainfall, soil pressure, soil displacement (acceleration); processing measured
parameters and giving warning signals to people to know and prevent.
* New points:
- We has systematically investigated factors related to landslides as well as warning signs.
- Fabricating earlier and more accurate warning system for people by using new
equipment compared to previous studies about landslide issues such as: pressure sensor,
acceleration sensor...
- Measuring and storing data on places at risk of landslides and transferring them to
servers to cater to research.
* Orient developments:
- Continue installing system to test in reality.
- Build a network of warning systems for landslides on a larger scale.