Catastrophic Debris Flows in Kazbegi Mountain Area, Georgia – Use of Available Free Internet Information to Generate Conceptual Engineering Geological Model

Abstract

This paper presents how much valuable data is freely
available from the Internet to be efficiently used together with
the interpretation of internet maps and 3D visualizations to
analyse geological hazard of some areas in the sense of
conceptual engineering geological model generation. The
example presented here is of the Kazbegi Mountain area in
Georgia near the border with Russia. The area in question is
famous for abundant debris flows with some of them being very
catastrophic and associated with melting glaciers. There were
two tragic events in the recent past in the Dariali Gorge east of
the Mkinvartsveri (Kazbegi) peak in 2014. Using the internet
information together with geological experience it can be easily
anticipated what may happen in the future within the area due to
slope movement hazards. Dangerous areas possibly to be
affected by debris flow (mud flow) in the future may be defined
and thus cost-effectively provide the first step to avoid
constructions in these areas to eliminate the loss of human lives
and destruction of property