Abstract
Major geologic problems, such as slope failures and landslides, coupled with the continuing pressure for increased land development and utilization of scarce resources have caused many to become concerned. This concern has been expressed in demands for more geologic investigations to determine the significance of geologic hazards to the public associated with new development. Reduction in these hazards can only be accomplished through improvement in the quality of geotechnical investigations, the quality of governmental systems, and in an increase in professionalization of local hazard mitigation policy making options. The process through which fact and value issues are identified and resolved should be opened to the informed participation of all parties, risks and benefits associated with alternative mitigation approaches should be thoroughly aired in open hearings, and technical findings contained in hazardous assessment reports should be cast in terms that are fully understandable to policy makers and the general public. A systems view of the problems, issues, constraints, impacts and stakeholders is a necessity if we are to reduce the risk of loss from geologic hazards.
