New model accurately predicts soil water flow, preventing roadside slope failures.
The researchers studied the soil characteristics of roadside slopes to predict how fast water can flow through them. They used measurements and developed a model that includes clay, silt, sand, bulk density, and soil moisture content. The model accurately estimated the water flow rate in clayey soils, especially at the top of slopes where landslides occurred. The results show that the model can help predict water movement in similar soil conditions.