Application of GIS in the analysis of landslide and flash flood vulnerability on the example of Lužnica river basin

Abstract

The application of GIS enables easier and more efficient spatial analysis, modelling of phenomena and processes, as well as predicting future events, and is especially important when investigating processes that degrade environment and endanger humans, other living beings and material goods. Landslides and flash floods are among the natural disasters that cause enormous consequences and often cause human casualties in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. In spite of this fact, for the most part of its territory vulnerability assessment zoning to these disasters was not carried out. The basin of Lužnica River, the right tributary of Vlasina River, is located in the southeast of Serbia, in one of the poorest parts of Serbia. The occurrence of the aforementioned disasters would further burden local communities, which is why a vulnerability analysis in order to reduce the risk is necessary. Using GIS, landslide and flash flood susceptibility zoning was carried out, and based on that, the vulnerability of settlements and road infrastructure was then analyzed. Very high landslide susceptibility was determined on 23.5% of the total basin area, while high landslide susceptibility have share of 20.5%. About 47.4% of the Lužnica River basin territory belongs to the classes of very high and high flash flood susceptibility. Territories of 19 settlements were determined to be of very high or high landslide vulnerability, and it is similar in the case of flash flood vulnerability. Almost 44% of total state roads length is in the very high and high landslide susceptibility classes, and almost all intersections between rivers and roads are considered to be in the class of very high and high flash flood vulnerability.