Abstract Small-scale physical models of geotechnical problems are thought-provoking didactic tools that motivate students by arousing their curiosity and facilitating the understanding of physical phenomena and theoretical concepts. This work presents the development of an educational video about slope stability failures and its contributing factors. It shows several small-scale models built in a glass wall tank measuring 150 x 50 x 10 cm. Layers of fine gravel were placed on a sloping surface of polystyrene to represent a slope with a layer of residual soil on rock. Toy houses and cars were used to represent anthropogenic agents, and water with dye represents the groundwater flow. Each model depicts a different scenario of shallow slope failure. The objective of the video is to show that most slope failures in urban areas result from natural and anthropogenic factors. Several influence factors are shown: porewater level rise, excavation, surcharge application, and solid urban waste deposition. The 6-minute video has had more than 130,000 views on YouTube. Thanks to its simple and concise language, the video is shown in basic education and science museum, as well as in graduate and undergraduate courses. A questionnaire survey was carried out with undergraduate students to assess how helpful the video was for the learning process. This article explains the construction of the model, the video script, and the strategies for its use, as well as its reception. It was found that the video promoted motivational and learning benefits of providing context, establishing relevance, and teaching inductively.

Abstract The disasters associated with landslides and floods forced the Brazilian Federal Government to launch, in 2003, a program aimed at encouraging the development of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans (PMRRs - Planos Municipais de Redução de Riscos). Given the uniqueness of this action and the variety of institutions accounting for executing these plans, which involve different material and human resources, it is important explaining how PMRRs have been built in order to, likely, improve them. The aim of the current study is to gather information about all 33 PMRRs available on the website of the Ministry of Regional Development by focusing on the following items: composition of the technical team involved in them, popular participation, risk mapping, typologies and costs of proposed structural and non-structural actions. Among the herein reached conclusions, it is worth emphasizing the excessive asymmetry observed in PMRRs’ approach to physical aspects of this issue to the detriment of its social aspects, a fact that affects both the risk estimation method and the proposed mitigating measures.

Resumen En 2003, ante los escenarios de desastre asociados a deslizamientos e inundaciones, el Gobierno Federal de Brasil inició un programa para incentivar el desarrollo de Planes Municipales de Reducción de Riesgos (PMRRs). Dada la novedad de la acción y la variedad de instituciones responsables de su ejecución, que involucran diferentes recursos materiales y humanos, es importante dar a conocer cómo los PMRR se han construido para, posiblemente, buscar su mejoría. El presente trabajo investigó los documentos de los 33 PMRR disponibles en el sitio web del Ministerio de Desarrollo Regional, enfocándose en los siguientes ítems: composición del equipo técnico involucrado, participación popular, mapeo de riesgos, tipologías y costos de las acciones estructurales propuestas, y acciones no-estructurales. Entre las conclusiones, se destaca la observación de una excesiva asimetría en el abordaje de los PMRR a favor de los aspectos físicos del problema en detrimento de los sociales, influyendo en el método de estimación del riesgo y las medidas mitigadoras propuesta.

Resumo Em 2003, mediante o cenário de desastres associados a deslizamentos e inundações, o Governo Federal Brasileiro iniciou um programa de incentivo à elaboração de Planos Municipais de Redução de Riscos (PMRRs). Diante do ineditismo da ação e da variedade de instituições responsáveis pela sua execução, envolvendo diferentes recursos materiais e humanos, é importante dar-se a conhecer como os PMRRs vêm sendo construídos para, possivelmente, se buscar seu aperfeiçoamento. O presente trabalho realizou o levantamento de informações sobre os 33 PMRRs disponibilizados no site do Ministério do Desenvolvimento Regional, focando-se nos seguintes itens: composição da equipe técnica envolvida; participação popular; mapeamento de risco; tipologias e custos de ações estruturais propostas; ações não estruturais. Dentre as conclusões, destaca-se a observação de uma excessiva assimetria de abordagem dos PMRRs a favor dos aspectos físicos do problema em detrimento dos sociais, influenciando o método de estimativa do risco e as medidas mitigadoras propostas.

Resumo Este artigo busca compreender o processo de vulnerabilização de uma comunidade situada no Morro Boa Vista (MBV, Vila Velha, ES) numa perspectiva interdisciplinar, utilizando-se de questionário para levantar aspectos da percepção do risco, de entrevistas para resgatar a história da ocupação, de registros fotográficos e de análise da geologia local. Evidencia-se uma ocupação influenciada por forças políticas que impeliram a população ao local, iniciada nos anos 1960, subsequente ao êxodo rural concomitante à industrialização do Espírito Santo. Em janeiro de 2016, por ausência ou omissão do poder público, um desastre no local em função de rolamento de rochas desvelou esse processo e a condição de subcidadania dos seus moradores, evidenciando a urgência de medidas de redução de risco de desastres.

Abstract This article aims to understand the vulnerabilization process of a community located on the Boa Vista Hill (city of Vila Velha – State of Espírito Santo) from an interdisciplinary perspective. Methods included a risk perception survey, interviews to collect the history of the occupation, photographic records and local geologic assessment. The scenario shows an occupation influenced by political forces that impelled the population to occupy the area in the 1960s, after the rural exodus that occurred simultaneously to the State’s industrialization. Either by the absence or omission of the public authorities, the rockfall disaster of January 2016 exposed that process, as well as the second-class citizenship of the local population and the urge for measures to reduce the risk of disasters.