Landslide hazard, susceptibility and risk assessment (HSRA) based on remote sensing and GIS data models: a case study of Muzaffarabad Pakistan

The notion of this research is based on the two devastating earthquake events that happened on October 8, 2005, and September 24, 2019, in the regions of Azad Kashmir and Muzaffarabad. This study aims to (i) identification of the susceptible zones where landslides can occur in the future; (ii) preparation of landslide inventory maps using vector data, satellite imagery, Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (STRM) and Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) DEM; (iii) implementation of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model using weighted overlay analysis (WOA). For this purpose, key factors such as land use, faults, slope, contours, soil, and seismology maps are used to develop a landslide hazard zonation map. The output landslide susceptibility map has four susceptibility levels such as low, medium, high, and very high vulnerable zones. The results indicated that a highly susceptible landslide zone is found in the northwestern part of Muzaffarabad, which is a metropolitan region. Moreover, there are 127 active landslides are identified and collectively about 9% of the study area is very highly susceptible to future landslides. Furthermore, research findings are helpful in tactful thinking for future infrastructure development, and ecological protection in high-susceptible landslide regions in Muzaffarabad. It also helps the Government to make strategies based on any specific zones on a priority basis to reduce the casualties and destruction in future landslide events.