Researchers from the University of Silesia have developed a new way of determining landslide activity by examining annual tree increments. The discovery has an impact on land development plans – houses and roads should not be built in areas of active landslides.

The trunks of trees growing on landslides are often inclined or bent due to landslides, which results in the creation of broader annual increments on one side of the trunk. Researchers from the University of Silesia have developed a method for analyzing such increments.

The invention allows to study soil activity for construction planning purposes and to create accurate threat maps for local governments, indicating safe areas and those that are exposed to ground movements. This will allow to manage the space in a more rational way and limit damage resulting from landslides in the future.