Landslide Susceptibility Assessment and Factors’ Selection Using the GIS Matrix Method (GMM) in Chefchaouen Province (Northern Morocco)

Situated in the Rif, a perimediterranean alpine chain, the province of Chefchaouen, has been the subject of multiple geomorphological studies for its hill slope dynamics because of the notable frequency and diversity of gravitational processes. The chain’s slope predisposition to these processes is due to its geological, morphological, and hydrological complexity and land use. Thus, to understand the distribution of this slope dynamic, the approach should be global by considering the abovementioned criteria in an analysis of the spatial pretension of these phenomena. This work aims to identify the factors responsible for the instability of the slope, which will allow the susceptibility assessment for Chefchaouen province using the GIS matrix method. Once the susceptibility map is produced, it is essential to evaluate its validity to assess the rate of correspondence between the distribution of landslides and the different levels of susceptibility. The inventory map and the susceptibility analysis are essential tools for future developments to anticipate and limit the damage related to landslides, especially since the production of an aptitude map for urbanization is being dealt with in the area under study.