Susceptibility assessment of shallow landslides in Hulu Kelang area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using analytical hierarchy process and frequency ratio

Abstract

Hulu Kelang is known as one of the most landslide susceptible areas in Malaysia. From 1990 to 2011, a total of 28 landslide events had been reported in this area. This paper compares two models as Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and probability–frequency ratio (FR) methods for recognizing landslide susceptibility regions in the Hulu Kelang area. Eleven landslide influencing factors were considered to form the probability–FR and AHP matrix, i.e. lithology-weathering, land cover, curvature, slope inclination, slope aspect, drainage density, elevation, distance to lake and stream, distance to road and trenches, the Stream Power Index and the Topographic Wetness Index. The accuracy of the maps produced from the two models were verified using a receiver operating characteristics. The verification results indicated that the probability–FR model based on probabilistic analysis of spatial distribution of historical landslide events was capable of producing a more reliable landslide susceptibility map in this study area compared to AHP model. About 89 % of the landslide locations have been predicted accurately by using the FR map.