A Spatial Study on the Impact of Habitat Quality on Geological Disaster Susceptibility: A Case Study in Pingshan County, China

Abstract

Habitat quality is a comprehensive index reflecting ecological conditions, land use impact, and human survival. Susceptibility to geological disasters is influenced by factors such as ecology, the geological environment, and human activities. Analyzing the effects of habitat quality on geological disaster susceptibility and its spatial dynamics is crucial for ecological protection and assessing geological disaster risks. This research focused on Pingshan County, using the InVEST 3.7.0 model and ArcGIS to evaluate habitat quality and geological disaster susceptibility for 2020. The spatial relationships were examined with GeoDa to investigate the impact of habitat quality on geological disaster susceptibility. The findings are as follows: (1) Pingshan County generally exhibits high habitat quality, showing significant spatial clustering with geological disaster susceptibility—predominantly high–high in the west and low–low in the east. (2) The geological environment significantly influences the relationship between habitat quality and geological disaster susceptibility, with an overall positive correlation but negative correlations in certain areas. Geological disaster susceptibility is primarily governed by geological factors rather than habitat quality. (3) In mountainous regions with comparable ecological and geological conditions, variations in geological disaster susceptibility are chiefly driven by human activities. Including human activities as a metric significantly enhances the evaluation accuracy. This study provides a scientific foundation for ecological protection, the assessment of geological disaster susceptibility, and the development of mitigation policies.