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Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards pp 135–175Cite as

Gis Technology in Mapping Landslide Hazard

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Part of the book series: Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research ((NTHR,volume 5))

Abstract

In the recent years, the ever-increasing diffusion of GIS technology has facilitated the application of quantitative techniques in landslide hazard assessment. Today a wider spectrum of instability causal factors, mainly morphological and geological in nature, can be cost-effectively acquired, stored and analysed in digital form. In particular, by processing elevation data and its derivatives new morphometric parameters can be readily generated over wide regions, and used as predictors of landslide occurrence. Despite the potential of such technological advancements, landslide hazard mapping remains a major, largely unsolved task. The identification and mapping of past and present landslide bodies, which constitute fundamental steps for predicting future slope-failures, remain highly subjective. Likewise, many basic instability determinants cannot be acquired and mapped with adequate accuracy. Most of the current methods for manipulating instability factors and evaluating hazard levels remain error-prone or questionable.

The experience gained from the application of multivariate models in small drainage basins, located in southern and central Italy, indicates that the type of terrain-unit selected, namely: grid-cell, unique-condition unit and slope-unit, exerts a relevant influence on the reliability and feasibility of the hazard model developed. Models, based on different types of terrain-units or statistical approaches, yield responses that may be statistically comparable but dissimilar in terms of applicability. In addition, when different landslide types occur over a region, each type requires the development of a specific model.

Among the different techniques traditionally applied, multivariate approaches, although with limitations, are the most feasible and cost-effective for evaluating the landslide hazard on a regional scale. This is true if GIS techniques are fully and carefully exploited for data acquisition, processing and analysis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR-CIOC, Bologna, Italy

    Alberto Carrara

  2. CNR-IRPI, Perugia, Italy

    Mauro Cardinali, Fausto Guzzetti & Paola Reichenbach

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  1. Alberto Carrara
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  2. Mauro Cardinali
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  3. Fausto Guzzetti
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  4. Paola Reichenbach
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Center of Study on Man-Computer Interaction, Bologna, Italy

    Alberto Carrara

  2. National Research Council, Institute of Research for Hydrogeological Protection, Perugia, Italy

    Fausto Guzzetti

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Carrara, A., Cardinali, M., Guzzetti, F., Reichenbach, P. (1995). Gis Technology in Mapping Landslide Hazard. In: Carrara, A., Guzzetti, F. (eds) Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8404-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8404-3_8

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