Advances in Natural Hazards and Geotechnical Risks: Designing Resilient Solutions with Sustainability : Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Natural Hazards (NATHAZ'25), Faial Island-Azores 2025

This volume presents the selected proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Natural Hazards (NATHAZ’25), held in Horta, Faial Island, Azores, on 23–24 October 2025. It serves as a key reference for researchers and practitioners in earth sciences, geohazards, geotechnics, engineering geosciences, georesources, and environmental sciences. Horta, a scenic Atlantic city overlooking Pico Mountain (2,351 m), is located on Faial Island, renowned for its striking natural landscapes and rural charm. The 1957–1958 Capelinhos eruption shaped a distinctive volcanic landscape that continues to serve as an important site for scientific research and public engagement.

Natural hazards threaten communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure, requiring integrated approaches that combine geology, geomorphology, hydrology, geoengineering, environmental sciences, and social sciences. Advancing hazard mapping, georisk assessment, monitoring, and multi‑hazard management and planning is essential to strengthen resilience and reduce risk.

This volume presents recent advances in geotechnical risk assessment and natural‑hazard studies, with contributions on hazard characterization, modelling, evaluation, and management. Case studies from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Atlantic and Mediterranean islands offer broad insights into geohazards and multi‑hazard systems. An international scientific committee ensures the volume’s overall rigor and multidisciplinary scope.

Key topics include:

i. Multi‐hazards and georisks assessment: geoscience, geoengineering, and societal issues

ii. Mapping, monitoring, and evaluating natural hazards: landslides, rock falls, and slopes

iii. Ground evaluation and environmental geotechnics: implications on geotechnical hazards

iv. Assessment, planning, and design with natural hazards: urban planning, engineering works, and hydrological issues

v. Faial Island geology: geodiversity and natural hazards

Helder I. Chaminé is a skilled geologist with over 35 years of experience and Professor of Engineering Geosciences at the School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto. His expertise includes GIS‑based geoscience mapping, structural geology, engineering geosciences, hydrogeomechanics, hard‑rock hydrogeology, and geohazards, with additional interests in mining geology, thermal‑waters management, and military geology. He leads the Laboratory of Cartography and Applied Geology (LABCARGA|ISEP) and is a senior researcher at GeoBioTec (U. Aveiro) and IDL (U. Lisbon). He directs the MSc in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (OE+EUR‑ACE Label) and serves as vice‑president of the Department of Geotechnical Engineering at ISEP. He has authored over 230 publications and edited more than 30 scientific volumes. He served as a crew geologist on the CAMÕES|Azores subterranean analog mission and co-edited the IEREK+ASTI Springer natural hazards volumes (NATHAZ’19, NATHAZ’22). He is currently co-chair of the scientific committee for the 5th International Workshop on Natural Hazards—NATHAZ’28 (Santa Maria Island, Azores, 2028), which focuses on geological and geomorphological risks.

Ana Malheiro is a geologist with over 42 years of experience in engineering geology, in situ investigations, geotechnics, natural hazards, and geological risk assessment. Since 1984, she has worked at the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LREC) in the Azores, where she leads engineering geology and geotechnical investigations. She is currently Director of Geotechnics, Sustainability, and In Situ Investigations at LREC. Additionally, she co-edited three special volumes: Volcanic Rocks for Balkema + Taylor & Francis; Advances in Natural Hazards and Hydrological Risks: Meeting the Challenge (NATHAZ’19); and Advances in Natural Hazards and Volcanic Risks: Shaping a Sustainable Future (NATHAZ’22) for the IEREK + ASTI Springer series. She has served on numerous organizing and scientific committees for national and international conferences and workshops. Currently, she is the co-chair of the scientific committee for the 5th International Workshop on Natural Hazards—NATHAZ’28 (Santa Maria Island, Azores, 2028), which focuses on geological and geomorphological risks.

Francisco Fernandes is a civil engineer with over 30 years of experience in engineering practice and management. Since 2012, he has led the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LREC) in the Azores. He serves on the boards of SPES, SPG, and FUNDCIC. He has coordinated research projects on sustainability and monitoring of unstable areas, reinforced masonry walls, developed an endogenous catalog of construction materials, organized an idea competition focused on energy and water efficiency in public buildings, and explored the circular economy and waste management in construction. He has co-authored conference proceedings, book chapters, professional papers, and technical reports. Additionally, he co-edited special volumes of the IEREK+ASTI Springer series, including Advances in Natural Hazards and Hydrological Risks: Meeting the Challenge (NATHAZ’19) and Advances in Natural Hazards and Volcanic Risks: Shaping a Sustainable Future (NATHAZ’22). He also leads the organizing committee for the 5th International Workshop on Natural Hazards—NATHAZ’28 (Santa Maria Island, Azores, 2028), which focuses on geological and geomorphological risks.