Erosion Assessment of Slope Failure: A Case Study of UniMAP Pauh Campus

Abstract

Erosional slope failures pose significant risks to infrastructure, ecosystems, and human safety, particularly in humid tropical regions where steep terrain and intense rainfall coincide. This study investigates erosion and its influence on slope stability at the UniMAP Pauh Campus through an integrated geotechnical and hydrological approach. Field surveys, soil sampling, and laboratory analyses were conducted to characterize soil profiles and evaluate erosion susceptibility using two established indicators, the ROM Scale for soil erodibility and the ROSE Index for rainfall erosivity. Key parameters, including slope gradient, soil texture, vegetation cover, drainage, rainfall intensity, and land-use patterns, were systematically examined across three representative slopes. Results indicate that Slope 1 exhibits very high erodibility (ROM = 10.1) due to its sandy texture and minimal clay content, while Slopes 2 and 3 show high erodibility (ROM = 4.4 and 7.9) under comparable rainfall conditions. The recorded ROSE values from 2021 to 2023 (6842.40, 5469.92, and 6475.05 tonne·m² ha?¹ hr?¹) reflect a persistently moderate erosive climate. These findings suggest that variations in soil composition and compaction, rather than rainfall intensity alone, are the primary drivers of erosion across the study area. Targeted mitigation measures are recommended, including vegetation reinforcement on Slope 1, enhanced drainage and contour realignment on Slope 2, and bio-geotextile stabilization on Slope 3. The study provides a site-specific framework for managing campus slope erosion and contributes to broader efforts toward sustainable, climate-resilient slope management in tropical institutional landscape.