Rainfall – landslide potential mapping using remote sensing and GIS at Ulu Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

This study presents the analysis of relationship between rainfall parameter and landslide occurrences in Ulu Kelang, Selangor by using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing data. Located in the country which near the equator line with tropical climates, Ulu Kelang receives averaging 2,400mm annually rainfall. Therefore rainfall is one of the main triggering factors that cause of landslide events. In this study, the rainfall threshold was conducted by using data obtained from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite precipitation. The rainfall pattern, rainfall intensity and accumulated rainfall were analyzed to determine the best rainfall threshold that triggering the landslide events. While the SPOT-5 imagery is used to identify the land use mapping in Ulu Kelang area for years 2005 and 2009 using ERDAS Imagine 2014. The potential landslide areas have been mapped by using GIS-based statistic model; weighted linear combination (WLC) to identify the relationship between rainfall, landslide and others contributing factors including slope gradient, geology and land use. The results indicate the potential landslide with five different indexes: very low, low, medium, high and very high; were verified using historical landslide occurrences in year 2002 until 2009. The result showed that Rainfall-Landslide potential mapping would be useful as early warning of landslide occurrences and prediction of future potential landslides for development and land-use planning; and landslide risk management.