Application of a RS- and GIS-based semi-quantitative approach (analytical hierarchy process – AHP) in landslide hazard risk assessment of the Shivkhola Watershed, Darjiling Himalaya
The present study deals with the application of analytical hierarchy process to prepare landslide hazard risk map of the Shivkhola Watershed applying remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS). Firstly, to integrate all the required thematic data layers and to prepare landslide susceptibility map, prioritised class rating value and prioritised factor rating value were obtained by developing couple-comparing matrix with a reasonable consistency and with the help of MATLAB software after Saaty. Three important risk factor/element maps, that is, weighted land use/land cover map, road contributing area map and settlement density map, were developed and their weighted linear combination was performed to prepare landslide risk exposure map. Then by integrating landslide susceptibility map and landslide risk exposure map, a classification was incorporated on ARC GIS Platform to prepare landslide hazard risk map. To evaluate the validity of the landslide hazard risk map, probability/chance of landslid...