Landslide Susceptibility Mapping and Assessment Using Geospatial Platforms and Weights of Evidence (WoE) Method in the Indian Himalayan Region: Recent Developments, Gaps, and Future Directions

The Himalayan region and hilly areas face severe challenges due to landslide occurrences during the rainy seasons in India, study area, i.e., Rudraprayag district, is no exception. However, related database research are still inadequate these landslide-prone areas. main purpose of this is: (1) prepare multi-temporal inventory map using geospatial platforms data-scarce environment; (2) evaluate susceptibility weights evidence (WoE) method Geographical Information System (GIS) environment at district level; (3) provide a comprehensive understanding recent developments, gaps, future directions inventory, mapping, risk assessment Indian context. Firstly, 293 landslides polygon were manually digitized BHUVAN (Indian earth observation visualization) Google Earth® from 2011 2013. Secondly, total 14 causative factors viz. geology, geomorphology, soil type, depth, slope angle, aspect, relative relief, distance faults, thrusts, lineaments, streams, roads, land use/cover, altitude zones selected based on previous study. Then, WoE was applied assign for each class obtain map. Afterward, final divided into five classes (very high, medium, low, very low classes). Later, validation checked against randomly IDRISI SELVA 17.0 software. Our results show that medium high susceptibilities had occurred non-forest areas, mainly scrubland, pastureland, barren land. upper catchment Mandakini river adjacent National Highways (107 07). also relief shallow soil, near thrusts southeast, south, west-facing steep slopes. achieved prediction accuracy 85.7%, indicating good model. Thus, could help local governments hazard mitigation, use planning, landscape protection.