Landslides remain one of the most destructive natural hazards worldwide, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements. As climate change intensifies rainfall variability and extreme weather events, the vulnerability of many regions -- especially mountainous and hilly communities -- continues to grow. Traditional methods of landslide detection and monitoring often rely on manual surveys, ground-based inspections, and outdated data, which are inefficient, costly, and at times unsafe. There is an urgent need for a more effective and science-driven approach to identifying and monitoring landslide hotspots.
This proposal outlines a comprehensive project titled "Mapping and Monitoring Landslide Hotspots Using GIS Technology." The project seeks to enhance disaster preparedness and risk reduction by leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and community-sourced data to identify, map, and continuously monitor landslide-prone areas. Over a three-year period, the project aims to produce high-resolution risk maps, establish real-time monitoring systems, and build local capacity for using GIS as a tool for disaster management. The initiative will empower local governments, researchers, and communities to make informed decisions, improve planning, and implement timely mitigation measures.
By integrating spatial datasets, satellite imagery, and field data, the project will enable early identification of slope instability, detect changes in land cover, and monitor rainfall-triggered risk zones. The result will be a robust digital platform that supports landslide prediction and enhances resilience against future hazards.
Landslides cause thousands of deaths and billions in economic losses each year. In many countries, rural areas situated in mountainous regions face chronic vulnerability due to steep slopes, deforestation, road construction, soil degradation, and human settlement expansion. The absence of updated hazard information often leads to unplanned development in risk-prone zones, resulting in preventable disasters.
In most high-risk regions, monitoring relies on reactive measures rather than preventive planning. Communities lack access to reliable hazard maps, making it difficult for authorities to restrict settlement in unstable zones or design infrastructure resilient to slope failures. Moreover, climate change has increased rainfall intensity and soil saturation rates, accelerating landslide triggers. Without precise, frequently updated spatial data, communities remain exposed to sudden slope collapses.
GIS technology presents a transformative solution. GIS enables spatial analysis of multiple risk factors -- such as rainfall patterns, soil type, slope gradient, vegetation cover, and historical landslide records -- allowing for the creation of detailed maps and predictive models. When combined with remote sensing and field-based GPS data collection, GIS becomes a powerful tool for monitoring landscape changes over time. Despite its advantages, many at-risk regions lack institutional capacity, technical training, and resources to adopt such advanced technologies.
This project responds to this gap by proposing a structured, community-inclusive, and technologically advanced approach to landslide mapping and monitoring. Through GIS integration, stakeholders will gain access to reliable, ongoing, and actionable information to mitigate losses and safeguard lives.
To reduce landslide-related risks by using GIS technology to accurately map, monitor, and predict landslide hotspots, enabling evidence-based planning and timely disaster mitigation in vulnerable regions.
The project directly benefits:
Indirect beneficiaries include transportation sectors, regional administrators, and humanitarian organizations engaged in disaster mitigation.
The project will adopt a systematic, science-based approach combining remote sensing, GIS analysis, ground truthing, and participatory community mapping.
A comprehensive dataset will be assembled using:
Data will be standardized and integrated into a multi-layer GIS database for analysis.
Trained field teams will conduct:
These field observations will validate and refine remote sensing analysis.
Using ArcGIS or QGIS platforms, specialists will perform:
Risk zones will be color-coded, annotated, and validated with community stakeholders.
A monitoring system will be established using:
The system will track early signs of instability, enabling preventive evacuation and local government responses.
A user-friendly online platform will be designed featuring:
A minimum of 200 stakeholders will receive direct training.
Awareness activities will include:
Information will be simplified to support non-technical audiences.
The project team will collaborate with:
This collaboration ensures long-term sustainability and integration of GIS hazard maps into official planning tools.
By the end of the project, the following key outputs will be achieved:
The project anticipates the following positive changes:
To ensure sustainability beyond the project period:
Conclusion
As landslide risks escalate due to climate change and unsustainable land use, communities in mountainous regions urgently need access to accurate, real-time information. GIS technology provides an unparalleled opportunity to analyze hazards, track changes, and support informed decision-making. This proposal presents a robust, forward-looking approach to mapping and monitoring landslide hotspots with the goal of saving lives, protecting infrastructure, and building long-term resilience.
By funding this initiative, partners will contribute to a scientifically advanced, community-centered system that enhances environmental safety and disaster preparedness for years to come.