Spatial Prediction of Landslide Hazard using GIS-multi-criteria Decision Analysis in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India

The GIS-multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques are increasingly used in landslide susceptibility mapping for predicting the future hazards, land use planning, and hazard preparedness. Identification of landslide susceptible regions helps in making a strategic plan for future developmental activities in the landslide prone areas. It enables the integration of different data layers with varying levels of uncertainty. In this work, GIS-MCDA is applied to landslide hazard zonation for the Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh, India. The current work aims to evaluate the performance of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for the development of a landslide hazard map. The geographical information system is used for the preparation of the database, analysis, modelling, and results. The ArcGIS 10.0 software is used to integrate the input layers by assigning appropriate weights. Six landslide causal factors are used, whereby the parameters are extracted from an associated spatial database. These factors are evaluated, and then the respective factor weight and class weight are assigned to each one of the associated factors. The developed landslide hazard map is categorized into three risk zones. The current work may be of great assistance to regional planners and decision-makers in deciding on the most suitable risk mitigation measures at the local level to prevent the potential losses and damages from landslides in the region.