Natural hazard assessment using GIS and remote sensing methods, with particular reference to the landslides in the Wondogenet Area, Ethiopia

Abstract

Wondogenet is located at the Eastern margin of the Main Ethiopian Rift. The geology of the area consists of volcanic rocks (ignimbrites, basalts, tephra) and volcano - lacustrine sediments of Plio - Pleistocene age. Morpho - dynamic activities have developed rugged and dissected landscape. These have been coupled with frequent heavy precipitation and accelerating human impact to produce frequent landslide problems.

In this study landslide occurrences and their relationships with various event controlling parameters have been evaluated using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Statistical relationships of these parameters with landslide occurrences were converted into risk susceptibility priority numbers. These numbers were re scaled between 0 and 1 for each layer before integrating them into a cumulative risk factor on which the landslide hazard zoning was based.