Landslide processes as a geotechnical factor influencing the efficiency of capital investments

Abstract

In recent years, residential construction in the Republic of Moldova has been concentrated primarily within major urban agglomerations, primarily in Chișinău and its satellite towns, including Ialoveni, Codru, Grătiești, and Stăuceni. The shortage of undeveloped land parcels increasingly necessitates the utilization of slopes susceptible to landslides for construction purposes. Building on such geotechnical unstable terrains invariably requires additional capital investments in geological investigations, design, and stabilization works. This paper examines the nature, classification, and main causes of landslide processes, as well as their spatial distribution across the territory of Moldova. Particular attention is devoted to assessing the economic consequences of landslide risk for construction projects and to developing methods for integrating geotechnical data into investment planning. The study emphasizes the importance of preventive engineering measures and rational land-use strategies aimed at minimizing financial losses and enhancing the overall efficiency of capital investments in construction projects located within landslide-prone areas.