Social perception of the landslide hazards by residents of Kyiv landslide-prone areas

Summary This study shows a synthesis between geological and sociological approaches to the assessment of landslide hazards. Due to theoretical and empirical synergy between natural and social sciences, not only the fixation of the landslide problem and residents’ condition evaluation are given, but also the social assessment of the problem by its direct participants is provided. The research based on the methodology of in-depth interviews with the residents of landslide-prone areas was carried out with the accordance to specifically allotted criteria. The obtained data shows the differences in the perception of safety parameters depending on the factors of personal, natural or governmental impact on the vision of the problem. The communicative effect and reputational characteristics influencing the trust to the efficiency of governmental programs for the protection from landslides is presented. The analytical conclusion provides the key factors that have an impact on the level of informing and reaction of residents of hazardous areas to the problem of landslide hazards. Recommendations for communicative and geological activity of state controlling agencies in landslide-prone areas are given.