Landslide risk analysis and its application in regional planning: an example from the highlands of the Outer Western Carpathians, Czech Republic

Using detailed field mapping, an analysis of landslide risk has been undertaken in the flysch highlands of the Outer Western Carpathians. The standardized Czech methodology of expert derived susceptibility zonation widely used for land development planning purposes and deterministic modeling of shallow landslides was used to separately assess the susceptibility of different landslide types. The two susceptibility zonation maps were used to define landslide hazard using information about landslide reactivation and the return periods of precipitation that triggered the respective landslide types. A risk matrix was then used to qualitatively analyze the landslide risk to selected assets. The monetary value of these assets, according to actual market prices, was calculated and analyzed with respect to the risk classification. Since the study area is an important residential and recreational area, the practical application of the derived results was checked through a series of interviews conducted with personnel of the local government planning and construction office. This demonstrated a willingness to apply the landslide hazard maps as well as restraints of its successful application. The main one is the absence of legally binding regulations to enforce the spatial planers to use this information.