Management and Diagnosis of Geological-Geotechnical Risks in Disorderly Urban Settlements: Case Study in the Municipality of Viana, Luanda Province, Angola

Abstract

The management of geological-geotechnical risks in disordered urban settlements is a critical challenge for the safety of urban communities in developing countries. This paper presents a case study in the Municipality of Viana, Angola, aiming to analyze risk management processes and propose an intervention model. The research, of a mixed-method nature (qualitative and quantitative), was based on interviews with municipal managers, the administration of 300 questionnaires to residents of the Caop A, B, and C neighborhoods, and document analysis. The results reveal an incipient institutional structure, with a predominantly reactive approach, centralized in the Inspection Department and the Municipal Master Plan (PDM). 58 retention basins and 17 riverbeds were identified, with 3,428 households located in flood-prone areas. The population shows high risk awareness (90%) and previous experience with landslides (60%). It is concluded that the implementation of robust public policies, reinforcement of inspection and enforcement, relocation of at-risk populations, and community education programs are necessary.