Landslide susceptibility mapping by neuro-fuzzy approach in a landslide-prone area (Cameron Highlands, Malaysia)

This paper presents the results of the neuro-fuzzy model using remote-sensing data and geographic information system for landslide susceptibility analysis in a part of the Cameron Highlands areas in Malaysia. Landslide locations in the study area were identified by interpreting aerial photographs and satellite images, supported by extensive field surveys. Landsat TM satellite imagery was used to map the vegetation index. Maps of the topography, lineaments, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and land cover were constructed from the spatial data sets. Eight landslide conditioning factors such as altitude, slope gradient, curvature, distance from the drainage, distance from the road, lithology, distance from the faults, and NDVI were extracted from the spatial database. These factors were analyzed using a neuro-fuzzy model adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system to produce the landslide susceptibility maps. During the model development works, a total of five landslide susceptibility models were constructed. For verification, the results of the analyses were then compared with the field-verified landslide locations. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic curves for all landslide susceptibility models were drawn, and the area under curve values were calculated. Landslide locations were used to validate the results of the landslide susceptibility map, and the verification results showed a 97% accuracy for model 5, employing all parameters produced in the present study as the landslide conditioning factors. The validation results showed a sufficient agreement between the obtained susceptibility map and the existing data on the landslide areas. Qualitatively, the model yields reasonable results, which can be used for preliminary land-use planning purposes.