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

Wondogenet is located at the Eastern margin of the Main Ethiopian Rift. The geology of the area consists of volcanic rocks (ignimbrites, basalts, teph ra) and volcano-lacustrine sediments of Plio-Pleistocene age. Morphoynamic activities have developed rugged and dissected landscape. These have been c oupled with frequent heavy precipitation and accelerating human impact to p roduce frequent landslide problems. In this study landslide occurrences and their relationships with various ev ent controlling parameters have been evaluated using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Statistical relationships of these parameters with landslide o ccurrences were converted into risk susceptibility priority numbers. These numbers were re scaled between 0 and 1for each layer before integrating the m into a cumulative risk factor on which the landslide hazard zoning was ba sed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.