Global Geospatial Data for Flood and Landslide Susceptibility Mapping

Abstract

Susceptibility mapping is an important component of natural hazard risk assessment and management. Susceptibility maps for floods and landslides, which are particularly damaging to human life and property, can provide a comprehensive understanding of risk areas and factors related to flood and landslide susceptibility. To create a global flood and landslide susceptibility map, global geospatial data for 37,984 landslide and 6,682 flood locations, as well as 11 selected environmental factors were used to construct a geographic information system database. The 11 environmental factors found to influence flood and landslide occurrence were rainfall, slope, terrain position index, plane curvature, terrain wetness index, distance from rivers, land use, soil texture, soil moisture, geology, and temperature. These data were then used directly to create a global flood and landslide susceptibility map.