“iRALL” The International Research Association on Large Landslides, is an international non-governmental, non-political, non-profit-making and unaffiliated institution for the promotion of knowledge about large landslides founded on 11th November 2015. The scientific committee consists of international experts in the field of large landslides. The secretariat of iRALL is located at the State Key laboratory of Geohazard prevention and Geo-environmental Protection (SKLGP), Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China.
The objectives of iRALL are to promote:

• Cooperation and exchange of knowledge among scientists and engineers working on large landslides

• The dissemination of scientific knowledge of large landslides

• The mitigation of risks associated with large landslides and their consequences

iRALL offers annually a 2 weeks high-level course, the “iRALL School”, focusing on investigation, analysis, and management of large landslides for Ph.D students and postdocs from all over the world, with international experts on the research of large landslides as teaching staff.

Topics of the 2017 iRALL School:
1. Identification and occurrence of large/giant landslides:

• Types (rock avalanches, large rockslides, debris avalanches...) and deposits

• Identification criteria 

• Geological context (morpho-structural setting, lithologies...). Predisposing factors

2. Investigation and mapping of large landslides

• Characterization and mapping

• Surface and subsurface exploration

• Monitoring (in-situ, remote)

3. Initiation and movement mechanism of large landslide

• Initiation mechanisms

• Triggers

• Runout analysis and modeling

4. Monitoring and early-warning of large landslides

5. Risk evaluation and control of large landslide: mitigation, prevention and protection strategies

• Hazard and risk analysis

• Risk scenarios

• Risk prevention and mitigation

• Failure forecasting. Alert systems

• Case histories

6. The disaster-chain effects

7. Large landslides and society: processes and impacts

Applications and registration:

The iRALL School is intended for 20 Ph.D students that are carrying out research in the field of landslide hazards, risks and related fields and a maximum of 10 doctors/postdocs who have obtained their Ph.D degree not earlier than 2012. The participants should have a solid background in one of the following fields: Geology, Engineering Geology, Geotechnical Engineering, Geography, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Engineering Geology or related Earth science disciplines. Participants must have a good working knowledge of the English language as the iRALL School will be conducted in English.

The costs for participants of the iRALL School of 2017 are as follows:

• No registration fee.
• The Ph.D students will have to pay their own travel to Chengdu, China. Cost of accommodation (sharing twin rooms) and field trips will be fully covered by the organizing institute SKLGP.
• The 10 doctors/postdocs will have to pay their own travel to Chengdu, China. They will also have to pay the cost of accommodation (sharing twin rooms) during two weeks (which will be an estimated total amount of 270 US $ or 250 Euro). Cost of field trips will be fully covered by the organizing institute SKLGP

Applications of PhD students and postdocs:

The school is open to 20 Ph.D students and 10 doctors/postdocs, which will be selected through an international call. Applications should be made by sending an application form and by providing a CV (max 2 pages) and 1 or more letters of recommendation.