Unraveling the evolution of landslide susceptibility: a systematic review of 30-years of strategic themes and trends

Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) research is vital for averting and mitigating regional landslide disasters. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of systematic analysis regarding LSM's developmental drivers. Utilizing SciMAT, a scientometric tool, we analyzed 1661 papers on LSM from the Web of Science core collection database, spanning 1993 to 2022. We employed cluster and thematic evolution analysis in SciMAT to unveil trends. The results indicate a consistent upward trend over the past three decades. LSM modeling methods, geological data, and contributing factors are major focal points. Notably, the evolution of LSM models, with a rising adoption of machine learning and deep learning for risk assessment, emerges as a central knowledge pathway. This study offers valuable insights to scholars by identifying literature gaps and highlighting crucial research directions, facilitating informed decision-making in the realm of LSM.