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Landslide susceptibility mapping using the weight of evidence method in the Tinau watershed, Nepal

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Abstract

Mountainous areas in Nepal are prone to landslides, resulting in an enormous loss of life and property every year. As a first step towards mitigating or controlling such problems, it is necessary to prepare landslide susceptibility maps. Various methodologies have been proposed for landslide susceptibility mapping. This study applies the weight of evidence method to the Tinau watershed in west Nepal. A landslide susceptibility map is prepared on the basis of field observations and available data of geology, land use, topography and hydrology. Predicted susceptibility levels are found to be in good agreement with the locations of past landslides. The results show that about 30 % of the area is highly susceptible to landsliding. The present results provide useful information to the authorities concerning the landslide susceptibility zones and possible improvements for disaster management activities and sustainable development.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their thanks to the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR), Belgium, for providing a PhD scholarship to the first author to carry out this research. The Mountain Risk Engineering Unit of Tribhuvan University, the Central Department of Geology of Tribhuvan University and the Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering of Vrije Universiteit Brussel are also acknowledged for their laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Prabin Kayastha & Florimond De Smedt

  2. Mountain Risk Engineering Unit, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Prabin Kayastha & Megh Raj Dhital

  3. Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Megh Raj Dhital

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  1. Prabin Kayastha
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  2. Megh Raj Dhital
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Correspondence to Prabin Kayastha.

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Kayastha, P., Dhital, M.R. & De Smedt, F. Landslide susceptibility mapping using the weight of evidence method in the Tinau watershed, Nepal. Nat Hazards 63, 479–498 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0163-z

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