Geospatial Modeling of Potential Landslide Hazard Estimation for Better Management in the Bandarban District of Bangladesh

This study presents a geospatial assessment of potential landslide hazards in the Bandarban District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh. Landslides are a severe threat to mountainous regions, causing loss of life and significant economic damage worldwide. The study employs a Geospatial weighted overlaying technique, assigning values on a scale of 1–5 and 100 for factors influencing landslides. These factors encompass historical landslide occurrences, land use patterns, rainfall, elevation, slope characteristics, soil types, geological features, distances to rivers, roads, stream orders, and socio-economic variables like household density, population density, income levels, and education. These values are determined in consultation with local communities and domain experts. The geospatial model categorizes the Bandarban District into five distinct levels of landslide hazards, ranging from “Very High Hazard” to “Very Low Hazard.” “Very Low Hazard” areas, constituting 13.39% of the total hazard area, pose the least risk but still require basic preparedness measures and educational initiatives. “Low Hazard” areas, covering 36.04% of the hazard area, necessitate lower mitigation priority but ongoing awareness and preparedness efforts. The “Moderate Hazard” areas, making up 39.39% of the hazard area, require a multi-faceted approach for risk reduction, including land-use regulations, reforestation, and community-based disaster risk reduction programs. “High Hazard” areas, though smaller at 11.00% of the hazard area, demand immediate attention with actions such as engineering solutions, land use planning, and proactive disaster preparedness. The “Very High Hazard” area, representing only 0.18% of the hazard area, requires the most urgent focus for mitigation measures.