Mapping landslide susceptibility in Travis County, Texas, USA

A geographic information system (GIS) was used to construct a landslide hazard map for Travis County, Texas. The County is experiencing rapid growth, and development has encroached into unstable terrain that is vulnerable to landslides. Four layers of data were superimposed to create the landslide h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:GeoJournal 2000, Vol.51 (3), p.245-253
Main Authors: Wachal, David J., Hudak, Paul F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
America
Bgi / Prodig
Environment
Environmental impact
Escarpments
Forecasts
Geographic information systems
Geographical information systems
Geography
Geological hazards
Geology
Hazards
Land settlement
Land use
Land use planning
Landslides
Landslides & mudslides
Limestones
Mapping
Marl
Mass wasting
Natural disasters
Physical geography
Remote sensing
Rocks
Shear strength
Soil erosion
Studies
Texas
Topography
U.S.A
United States of America
Urban areas
Urban planning
Vegetation
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Description
Summary:A geographic information system (GIS) was used to construct a landslide hazard map for Travis County, Texas. The County is experiencing rapid growth, and development has encroached into unstable terrain that is vulnerable to landslides. Four layers of data were superimposed to create the landslide hazard map. Slope was given the most emphasis, followed by geology, vegetation, and proximity to faults. The final map shows areas of low, medium, and high landslide susceptibility. Areas of high susceptibility occupy stream and reservoir banks, rock escarpments, and agricultural land. The landslide hazard map can be a useful geologic criterion for land use planning. Planners can use the map to allocate appropriate land uses to unstable terrain, and to identify existing structures at risk from landslide activity. The methods presented in this paper can be adapted to other counties in the U.S. and elsewhere. Results of this study suggest that geographic information systems can effectively compile and overlay several data layers relevant to landslide hazards.
ISSN:0343-2521
1572-9893
DOI:10.1023/A:1017524604463