Spatial Analysis of Landslide Susceptibility and Rural Vulnerability in the Gavarud Basin, Western Iran

Abstract

Landslides are among the most significant geomorphological hazards in mountainous regions and are influenced by various natural and human-induced factors. These events can cause extensive damage to infrastructure, agricultural lands, and human settlements. Given that the Gavarud basin in western Iran lies within the tectonically active Zagros geological unit, identifying landslide-prone areas and assessing the vulnerability of rural settlements is crucial for risk reduction and proper land-use planning. In this study, a 30-meter SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) digital elevation model, a 1:100,000 geological map, MODIS satellite imagery, and several spatial thematic layers—including slope, aspect, elevation, distance from faults, rivers, and roads, lithology, and vegetation cover—were used to evaluate landslide susceptibility. The thematic layers were standardized in ArcGIS and weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) implemented in Expert Choice software. The fuzzy gamma operator was applied to integrate the weighted layers and produce the final susceptibility map. The results indicate that the western and northern parts of the basin exhibit the highest landslide potential. Spatial analysis of rural settlements showed that 52 villages fall within the high-risk zone, 64 villages within the moderate-risk zone, and 186 villages within the low-risk category. The findings provide essential information for risk management, land-use planning, and implementing preventive measures in the Gavarud basin.