Progress and prospects of geological hazard investigation and assessment in Hubei Province

Hubei Province is characterized by complex geological conditions and a high frequency of geological hazards, with both the at-risk population and economic losses among the highest in China. The investigation and assessment of geological hazards constitute the fundamental core of technical support for disaster prevention and mitigation. This study aims to clarify the history of geological hazard surveys in Hubei, analyze current challenges, and explore strategies for risk prevention and control in the new era. A literature review approach was adopted, combined with typical cases and effectiveness evaluations. The study focused on the evolution of survey models, innovations in technical systems, and the effectiveness of results application, conducting a comprehensive analysis. The results indicate that the geological hazard investigation in Hubei Province can be divided into four stages: initial, improvement, development, and transformation stage, reflecting a paradigm shift from post-disaster emergency response to risk management. A four-level (“province–city–county–key area”) and five-attribute (susceptibility, hazard, vulnerability, risk, prevention and control) zoning system was established. A comprehensive remote sensing-based hazard identification system tailored to Hubei Province was developed, along with a series of corresponding local technical standards. Survey results have been widely applied in land spatial planning, engineering safety, and the full disaster prevention and control chain, contributing to the province’s first achievement of “zero casualties” from geological hazards in 2024. Against the backdrop of intensified climate change and increasing engineering activities, and in response to new disaster prevention and mitigation demands, this paper envisions future directions for achieving “early identification, precise assessment, and intelligent prevention and control” of geological hazard risks, focusing on refined geological hazard investigations, integration of advanced technologies, transformation and application of survey outcomes, and intelligent disaster prevention and mitigation. The findings of this study provide important theoretical support and practical reference for the optimization of provincial disaster prevention and mitigation systems.