Landslides susceptibility mapping using GIS and weights of evidence model in Tetouan-Ras-Mazari area (Northern Morocco)

• Main Authors: Meryem Elmoulat, Lahcen Ait Brahim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-01-01
• Series: Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
• Subjects: Mass movements susceptibility map; weight of evidence; GIS; remote sensing data; Tetouan-Ras-Mazari
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2018.1505666

The 590 km2 of the Western Rif (North of Morocco) is well known for active mass movements due to the strong climatic and anthropogenic aggressions in this area, where lithology and topographic relief are likely the phenomena that cause slope instability problems. In this study, we have focused on mass movements that have been occurred in the last two decades, namely landslides, complex slides and block slides. Over the years, this site and its surroundings have experienced repeated landslides. For this reason, landslides susceptibility mapping is mandatory to prevent natural risk and to better manage land-use. The application of weight of evidence method using remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) were used to generate a susceptibility map. Six conditioning factors were used in this study: lithology, distance to faults, distance to drainage, slope, aspect and hypsometry. A total of 126 mass movements locations were detected; 63 landslide location (50%) were randomly selected as input data for the entire process using the spatial data model (SDM) and the remaining locations were used for validation purposes. The final map of areas susceptible to mass movements has an accuracy of 95.3% and has been classified into four classes (very high, high, moderate and low).