Natural hazards cost the global economy over $50,000 million per year. Two thirds of this is spent on damage repair, the remainder represents the cost of predicting, preventing and mitigating against disasters. Man-made hazards such as groundwater pollution, subsidence and soil erosion add to this figure. Geological Hazards presents a state-of-the-art survey and examines methods of assessing, evaluating and combating hazards, both natural and man-made.

Fred Bell is Professor and Head of Department of Geology and Applied Geology at the University of Natal