GIS application in analysis of threat of forest fires and landslides in the Svrljiski Timok basin (Serbia)

Abstract

Forest fires and landslides represent very frequent natural disasters in Serbia. The Svrljiski Timok river basin is located in the southeastern part of the Republic of Serbia, and according to natural characteristics it represents a significant area for geohazard study. The task of the research is to analyse natural and anthropogenic condition by determining locations which are susceptible to forest fires and landslides in order to protect the population and infrastructure. Using Geographic Informational Systems (GIS) and available data, their processing was started for the susceptibility of the terrain to forest fires using the RC index. For the analysis of the territory occurrence of landslides the statistical Probability method (PM) and Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI) were used. The obtained results indicate that 20.81% of the area of the Svrljiski Timok basin has a very high susceptibility to forest fires, while 29.21% of the terrain is highly susceptible to landslides. The results gained processing the RC index can be applied to adequate risk management of forest fires, improvement of monitoring and early warning systems in the study area. Sustainable management of agricultural land and improvement of environmental protection can be implemented on the basis of the obtained results for the most endangered areas of landslides.