Cross National Study on Landslide Awareness and Risk Management

Coastal communities face growing landslide risks due to climate change, with variable rainfall patterns increasing vulnerability. Landslides result in significant casualties and economic losses, highlighting the need to better understand community perceptions and responses. This study analyzed landslide preparedness and response in Bangladesh, Portugal, and Taiwan coastal communities. Open-ended questionnaires were distributed to residents in landslide-prone areas, with responses visualized using word clouds to identify key concerns. Data was further analyzed using computational topic modeling to extract core themes and decision tree analysis to predict adaptation behaviors based on influencing factors. Findings reveal distinct vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities in each study site, emphasizing the importance of tailored strategies for disaster risk reduction. By analyzing socio-economic variables such as education, employment status, and community size, the study uncovers their role in shaping landslide risk perception and mitigation behavior. By encompassing data from Bangladesh, Taiwan, and Portugal, it highlights distinct cultural, geographic, and socio-economic influences on landslide awareness and mitigation strategies. This study bridges the gap by comparing three distinct geographic sites, shedding light on commonalities and differences in landslide risk perception and preparedness. A critical gap in understanding public trust in governmental disaster management is addressed, revealing varying levels of trust and its implications for effective response strategies. By integrating local knowledge with scientific methods, the study enhances understanding of socio-ecological resilience to landslides and provides actionable insights for policymakers. This cross-national comparison advances global efforts to strengthen adaptation and reduce risks in landslide-prone coastal regions. The study’s findings underscore the need for tailored, community-specific disaster management strategies and highlight the value of integrating socio-demographic factors into risk assessment and mitigation planning. These contributions advance both academic knowledge and practical applications in disaster risk management.