Probabilistic slope stability analysis typically requires an optimisation technique to locate the most probable slip surface. However, for many slopes particularly those containing many different soil layers or benches several distinct critical slip surfaces may exist. Furthermore, in large slopes these critical slip surfaces may be located at significant distances from each other. In such circumstances, finding and rehabilitating the most probable failure surface is of little merit, as rehabilitating that surface does not improve the safety of the slope as a whole. Unfortunately, existing slip surface search techniques were developed to converge on one global minimum. Therefore, to implement such methods to evaluate the stability of a slope with multiple failure mechanisms requires the user to define probable slip locations prior to calculation. This requires extensive engineering experience and places undue responsibility on the engineer in question. This paper proposes the use of a locally informed particle swarm optimisation method which is able to simultaneously converge to multiple critical slip surfaces. This optimisation model when combined with a reliability analysis is able to define all areas of concern within a slope. A case study of a railway slope is presented which highlights the benefits of the model over single objective optimisation models. The approach is of particular benefit when evaluating the stability of large existing slopes with complicated stratigraphy as these slopes are likely to contain multiple viable slip surfaces.

The INFRARISK project is developing reliable stress tests on European Critical Infrastructure using integrated tools for decision-support. This aims to achieve higher infrastructure network resilience to rare and low probability extreme events. As part of the project, a hazard assessment methodology is developed to account for extreme natural hazards with cascading effects. Often hazard scenarios arising from cascading effects lead to disastrous consequences because such hazards are not prepared for. In particular, this paper focuses on the cascading hazard scenario involving earthquake triggered landslides. Traditional risk analysis considers each risk source as independent from the others. As a consequence, values for risk are usually defined regardless of interactions among the multiple risks present in a region. The current approach accounts for interaction between the two hazards in such a way that the probabilities of occurrence can be aggregated as part of an overall risk assessment methodology. The methodology is then demonstrated on a virtual road network case study as a proof of concept.