Elevation Angles, Soil Textures, Soil Settlements and Water-Holding Capacity on Landslides: An Experimental Case Study in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines

The soil textures, soil settlements, soil water-holding capacity, and elevation angles are parameters for landslides in the Province of Iloilo. They are usually triggered during heavy rainstorms, causing severe property damage and sometimes causing casualties. This experimental study aims to determine how these parameters are factors for landslides and flood monitoring and uses three methods to provide ease and continuity of measurements. The Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR)spectroscopy analysis for soil textures, the Imhoff cone for the settling and water-holding capacity of the soil, and an improvised apparatus to test how the slopes affect the transportation of soil materials. FTIR Soil analysis reveals that contents of clay and organic matter directly affect soil water-holding capacity due to the larger surface area. The smaller particle sizes, such as clay, have a larger surface area leading to a higher water-holding ability. A landslide-prone zone has a lesser settling time except for the sand that settles fastest due to larger masses. An angle of 20 degrees has more mass movement too much higher slopes like 55 and 85 degrees. The increase in height or angle of the elevation decreases stability, leading to less mass movement. Less mass movement leads to the conclusion that there are rare landslides in the very high slope range due to fewer vibrations or soil movements caused by human activities and being compact or stable. This study is crucial for forecasting and preventing geohydrological processes and developing better landslide warning strategies to mitigate risks and reduce socioeconomic damage.