Assessment of landslide susceptibility of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand (India) using logistic regression and multi-criteria decision-based analysis by analytical hierarchy process

ABSTRACT

Landslides are the most prevalent natural hazard in hilly regions of India. This study examines the landslide susceptibility of the Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India, using multi-criteria decision based analysis by analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and logistic regression (LR) analysis. The LSZ modelling was performed using fourteen landslide causative factors. Based on past landslide data, landslide locations were identified, which were further divided into a 70/30 ratio, with 70 representing training and 30 representing validation. Validation of the findings of the predicted maps of landslide susceptibility using Area under Curve (AUC) indicates that the predicted map using the LR approach has the highest prediction rate compared to other methods used for landslide susceptibility prediction. Also, validation of all the models was done using Landslide Density Index (LDI) which shows the validity of all models. Thus, the results of all models can be used to predict landslide susceptibility in Pithoragarh.

KEYWORDS:

• Disaster
• GIS
• landslide susceptibility
• AUC
• LDI

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Public Works Department (PWD), Uttarakhand for providing the information on landslides in the state. Also, the authors are thankful to the people of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand for giving information regarding landslide areas in the district.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).