NGI and Partners Finally Secure Funding for SAFERCLAY on Risk Methods for Quick Clay Landslides

SAFERCLAY is a Competence and Collaboration Project, aimed at developing new knowledge and building research competence to address critical societal challenges. Approximately 75 percent of Norway's population lives in areas with quick clay. L'Heureux believes it is crucial that this research application finally pass the Research Council's needle's eye.

"Quick clay landslides pose a significant risk to human life, infrastructure, ecosystems, and biodiversity. We need an adapted and more sustainable approach to managing landslide risk to build and live in areas with quick clay, including societal safety and ecological security recommendations."

Political Pressure for More Knowledge on Quick Clay Landslides and Risk

Both the Gjerdrum Committee and the Office of the Auditor General have emphasized the importance of more research to manage better the risks associated with quick clay landslides. Despite the need, securing funding for research on natural hazards like quick clay landslides has proven very difficult, a challenge NGI has highlighted in media statements and dialogues with the Research Council of Norway (NFR).

"I believe we have managed to influence the Research Council. They have slightly adjusted the proposal call, making it more suitable for a project like SAFERCLAY. It is great to see that NFR now focuses more on natural hazard issues than before," says L'Heureux.

Wide Range of Partners

A prerequisite for a Competence and Collaboration Project is collaboration between research environments and relevant actors outside the research sector. SAFERCLAY has 12 partners, spanning research, consulting, industry, and administration. The partners are:

NVE is responsible for managing the prevention of quick clay landslides; the Norwegian Public Roads Administration is responsible for national tasks for the entire road transport system; BaneNor manages important infrastructure; and the consulting company Multiconsult. Sarpsborg, Lillestrøm, and Melhus represent the municipal sector. NGI, NTNU, and the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) represent the research sector domestically.

Quick clay landslides pose a risk to Canada and Sweden, as well as Norway. In SAFERCLAY, Canadian Université Laval and Swedish Geotechnical Institute are partners.

Kick-off Meeting in February 2025

The project starts now and will last until October 2028.

"We are planning a major kick-off meeting in the form of a workshop with all partners in Oslo in February 2025. The workshop will ensure all partners get a good overview of SAFERCLAY's goals, content, participants, and implementation plan. There will also be time for group work and discussions to work in detail with each work package. We look forward to starting the project," says L'Heureux.