Consequence: Frequency Matrix as a Tool to Assess Landslides Risk

Abstract

Since F-N curves have been proposed, the use of consequences-frequency matrices (CFM) has been extensively used in several domains and in risk and hazard analysis. It represents a common framework for many applications, including project management and decision-making. CFM are diagrams which possess consequence and frequency classes on the axes. They permit to classify risks and hazards based on expert knowledge with limited quantitative data. In this paper, we propose to present the main characteristics of such tools. The semi-quantitative approaches are privileged, numbers must be attached to the limit of classes, in order to avoid erroneous uses. Comparison with F-N curve is addressed. It appears that giving probabilities to all classes is a way to introduce uncertainties and to get exceedance curves. The use of triangular probability distribution functions to describe the belonging to classes is a possibility coupled with a Bayesian approach. A short example is provided.