Landslide susceptibility deterministic approach using geographic information systems: application to Breaza town, Romania

The study is a deterministic-based approach on landslide susceptibility. The purpose of the paper is to create quantitative susceptibility maps by joining the one-dimension infinite slope stability model with a raster-based GIS (ILWIS) and taking into account the spatial distribution of input parameters. A landslide-prone area, with relative homogeneous geology and geomorphology, located in the Subcarpathian sector of the Prahova River, Romania, was selected for the study. There are frequent problems caused by active landslides in the studied area, especially in years with heavy precipitation, often causing destruction of houses and roads situated on the slopes (1992, 1997, and 2005). Detailed surveys covering a 7-year period provided the necessary input data on slope parameters, hydrological components, and the geotechnical background. Two simulations were used: one on dry soil conditions and one on fully saturated soil conditions. A third test was based on the level of the groundwater table mapped in summer 2008. Detailed analyses were particularly focused on landslides to compare predicted results with actual results using field measurements. The model is very suitable for use in raster GIS because it can calculate slope instability on a pixel basis, each raster cell being considered individually. The drawback of the model is the highly detailed data of input parameters. Despite this disadvantage, in conclusion, the usefulness of slope stability models on a large-scale basis was emphasized under infinitely high failure plain conditions and lithological homogeneity.