Debris Flow Risk Analysis. In Data Science & Engineering Master of Advanced Study (DSE MAS) Capstone Projects

Debris Flows are a distinct type of landslide that suddenly occur without warning. They are fast-moving channels of water and soil that carry large natural objects like boulders and trees, or human-made objects including cars. In the American West, Debris Flows have directly caused death and property damage. Debris Flows often occur after rain events and the burn scars left behind by wildfires increase their likelihood. Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, it is critical to predict Debris Flows and take precautionary action before they occur. This project builds upon prior research of predicting Debris Flows using additional geological features and more advanced machine learning techniques. The project also includes an intuitive interface for decision makers to access these probability estimates.