Enhancing Slope Stability in High-Rainfall Regions: Insights from Genting Highlands for Long-Term Geomaterial Performance

Slope stability issues are a critical aspect of civil engineering, particularly in tropical regions like Malaysia, where extreme weather fluctuations and high rainfall frequently trigger slope failures. The combination of steep terrain and intense precipitation significantly increases the risk of landslides, threatening infrastructure, human settlements, and environmental sustainability. This research investigates the impact of heavy rainfall on slope instability at the Aminuddin Baki Institute, Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, an area characterized by complex topography and high precipitation. Using advanced geotechnical tools, SEEP/W for simulating rainfall infiltration and SLOPE/W for stability analysis, this study assesses slope performance under saturated conditions and evaluates three stabilization techniques: micro-helical anchors, soil nailing, and geotextiles. The analysis showed that rainfallinduced infiltration reduced the slope’s Factor of Safety (FOS) to 1.257, indicating a failure-prone condition. Upon implementing reinforcement methods, FOS values improved to 1.685 (micro-helical anchors), 1.647 (soil nailing), and 1.605 (geotextiles), corresponding to percentage improvements of 34.0%, 30.9%, and 27.7%, respectively, relative to the unreinforced condition. All methods exceeded the JKR minimum safety threshold of 1.5 for reinforced slopes. Among them, micro-helical anchors demonstrated the best performance due to their deeper engagement and anchoring mechanism. These findings highlight the importance of selecting effective and siteappropriate reinforcement strategies. The study contributes valuable insights into cost-effective and sustainable slope stabilization techniques suitable for landslide-prone, high-rainfall environments.