Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Mountainous Terrain

Landslides are a devastating natural phenomenon that can cause significant damage to people, property, and infrastructure. Various physical, geological, climatic, and tectonic factors can contribute to landslides in different parts of the world. In addition to natural causes, improper construction and chaotic development can also lead to landslides and the destruction of property and lives. Landslide hazard zonation (LHZ) is a method of dividing a landmass into homogeneous zones and ranking. Landslides are a pervasive and destructive hazard in the Himalayan regions. While they cannot be completely eliminated, their effects can be minimized. This study focuses on the Garhwal Himalaya region to identify areas prone to landslides. Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to create a database, analyze, and generate output. LISS III images were used to create the land use land cover (LULC) map and Landsat satellite data was used to identify. This research paper aims to integrate various techniques and tools to generate a geospatial database for landslide hazard zone delineation in the study area. LISS III images were used for land use land cover (LULC) mapping and Landsat satellite data for lineaments identification. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was used to determine the weights of the landslide influence parameters. ERDAS Imagine and ArcGIS software were used to integrate the input layers after assigning them suitable weights. The primary objective of this research paper is to combine the various existing methods and tools to create a Geo-spatial database for delineating landslide hazard zones in the study area. The resulting map's susceptibility to landslides has been divided into five categories, namely very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. This LHZ map can be of great benefit to planners and designers in selecting the most appropriate route paths.