Landslide Researcher (Consultant) | ReliefWeb 7 views

A. Organization Introduction:

ADPC is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and expanded its role to be for scientific, educational, developmental and humanitarian purposes. ADPC employs a wide range of professional expertise typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC develops and implements cross-sectoral projects/programs on the strategic themes of risk governance, urban resilience, climate resilience, health risk management, preparedness for response and resilient recovery. Our strategic themes are complemented and underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity, regional and transboundary cooperation as well as poverty and livelihoods.

Through its work, ADPC supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the agenda defined at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and other relevant international frameworks.

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

B. Department Introduction

The Risk Analytics and Climate Services Department is a multi-disciplinary team of experts committed to providing innovative, science-based solutions for actions to adapt to climate change and mitigate the impacts of disasters. The innovations include uses of geospatial technology, satellite data, numerical models, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence for assessing vulnerability and risk, generating climate data, developing early warning systems, forecasting possible climate impact, and informing anticipatory actions. These lead to risk-informed developments in the sectors such as agriculture, transportation, water resources, energy, communications and health.

The department also applies advanced geoinformatics and climate analytics to address water and food security issues by assessing water availability and water-use efficiency, groundwater monitoring, assessing drought risks, and optimizing agricultural productivity, hence ensuring sustainable water and food systems in vulnerable regions. The department promotes Nature-Based Solutions by leveraging ecosystem services such as wetland restoration, agroforestry, and green-gray infrastructure to reduce disaster risks and build climate resilience. Lastly, the department produces risk analytics and integrates them into urban plans and engineering designs of critical infrastructures, hence improving their resilience to disasters and climate change. With a commitment to science-based approach, the department envisions empowering stakeholders to reduce risks, adapt to climate change, and build more resilient communities and ecosystems.

C. Statement of Intent

Under the Development of a Landslide Disaster Decision Support System (DSS) for Thailand (DMRLS), ADPC is supporting the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), Thailand, to develop a national-scale Landslide Disaster Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS aims to improve landslide risk assessment, rainfall-trigger thresholds, early warning, and decision-making for landslide risk reduction in Thailand.

To strengthen the scientific foundation of the DSS, ADPC seeks to recruit a Landslide Researcher (Consultant) with strong expertise in landslide processes, susceptibility assessment, rainfall-induced landslide thresholds, and regional experience in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

D. Scope of Work

The Landslide Researcher will provide technical leadership and advisory support to the DMRLS technical team in the development of landslide hazard components of the DSS. The consultant will focus on landslide typology, susceptibility modeling, rainfall-trigger mechanisms, and scientifically sound threshold development appropriate to Thailand’s geomorphological, geological, and climatic conditions.

E. Expected Outputs:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

1. Technical guidance on landslide types in Thailand, including rainfall-induced landslides, debris flows, shallow and deep-seated failures.
2. Conceptual framework and recommendations for landslide susceptibility assessment suitable for national and sub-national application.
3. Advisory inputs on rainfall thresholds (e.g., intensity–duration, antecedent rainfall, soil moisture–rainfall thresholds) for landslide triggering.
4. Technical notes and documentation to support integration of landslide models into the DSS.
5. Review and validation inputs on landslide hazard outputs generated by the project team.
6. Capacity support through technical discussions or review sessions with DMR and project stakeholders.

F. Responsibilities and Tasks:

The Landslide Researcher will undertake the following tasks:

• Review existing landslide inventories, geological, geomorphological, and hydro-meteorological data relevant to Thailand.
• Advise on classification of landslide types and failure mechanisms applicable to different regions of Thailand.
• Provide guidance on landslide susceptibility modeling approaches, including:
  • Data-driven/statistical methods
  • Physically based or hybrid approaches
  • Selection of conditioning factors (e.g., slope, lithology, land use, rainfall, soil properties).
• Advise on the development of rainfall-induced landslide thresholds, considering:
  • Local rainfall regimes (monsoon, extreme events)
  • Antecedent rainfall and soil moisture conditions
  • Regional variability across Thailand.
• Support the technical team in translating scientific methods into operational DSS components.
• Review draft landslide hazard maps, threshold outputs, and DSS logic, and provide written technical feedback.
• Ensure consistency with international best practices while remaining practical for national operational use.

G. Working Principles:

• The consultant will report to the DMRLS Project Manager.
• The consultant will work closely with ADPC’s Senior Climate Data Specialist, Geospatial Analysts and Climate Risk and Vulnerability Specialist.
• Regular coordination meetings (online or in-person) will be held as required.

H. Qualifications:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Engineering Geology, Geotechnical Engineering, Geomorphology, Earth Sciences, Natural Hazards, or a closely related field.
• Proven technical expertise in landslide processes and mechanisms, with a strong focus on rainfall-induced landslides (e.g. shallow landslides, debris flows, slope failures).
• Demonstrated experience in landslide susceptibility assessment, including selection of conditioning factors and application of statistical, data-driven, physically based, or hybrid modeling approaches.
• Strong experience in the development and interpretation of rainfall thresholds for landslide triggering, such as intensity–duration thresholds, antecedent rainfall thresholds, or combined rainfall–soil moisture approaches.
• Experience working in Thailand and/or Southeast Asia is strongly preferred, with familiarity with regional geological, geomorphological, and hydro-meteorological conditions.
• Prior experience supporting operational applications, such as early warning systems, decision support systems (DSS), or risk-informed planning, is an advantage.
• Experience working with government agencies, research institutions, or international organizations is preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary and multinational technical teams, including non-Thai experts, and to provide clear technical guidance to practitioners and decision-makers.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, and communication skills in English.

1. Duty Station: Home-based (with in-person meeting arrangements as appropriate).

J. Duration: The contract will be for a period of 3 months between February 2026 – April 2026.

K. Itinerary: Any official travel required during the contract period must be approved in advance by the Director of ACS. Approved travel expenses will be covered by ADPC in accordance with its travel policy and will be reimbursed separately from the consultant’s remuneration.

L. Condition of payment:

The consultancy shall be output-based, with payments made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of agreed deliverables by ADPC and the DMRLS Project Manager.

The total consultancy fee is USD 18,750 for the full duration of the assignment. Payments will be made in two (2) instalments, linked to the delivery of outputs as outlined in Section E:

Payment Schedule

Payment Round 1 – 50% (USD 9,375)
Paid upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the following outputs:

• Output 1: Technical guidance on landslide types in Thailand
• Output 2: Conceptual framework and recommendations for landslide susceptibility assessment
• Output 3: Advisory inputs on rainfall-induced landslide thresholds

Payment Round 2 – 50% (USD 9,375)
Paid upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the following outputs:

• Output 4: Technical notes and documentation supporting integration of landslide models into the DSS
• Output 5: Review and validation inputs on landslide hazard outputs and DSS components

Payments will be transferred to the consultant’s designated bank account. No additional compensation shall be provided unless prior written approval for supplementary expenses is obtained from the designated authority. The consultant shall bear any applicable bank charges. All payments are inclusive of income tax and VAT, for which the consultant is solely responsible for declaration and settlement in accordance with relevant tax regulations.