Landslides and floods zonation using geomorphological analyses in a dynamic basin of Costa Rica

Abstract

Despite of the geomorphological diversity of Central America and Costa Rica, there are few detailed geomorphological studies in the region. A 1:25,000 geomorphological analyses of the Upper General River Basin (UGRB) located in the southeast in Costa Rica is presented, based on the interpretation of aerial photographs and field geomorphological mapping. First, a morphometric analysis was performed to calculate and analyze seven variables that were merged in order to produce the flood and landslides susceptibility maps. Second, a total of 43 types of landforms divided genetically into endogenic (tectonic), and exogenic (fluvial, gravitational, and glacial) features are mapped for an area of 1560 km2. Finally, a geomorphological hazard map with the zonation of the different susceptibility levels of landslides and floods were performed. This cartography is important in terms of geomorphological evolution, disaster risk reduction as well as for land use planning for approximately 40,000 inhabitants. The presented methodology can also be applied in other developing countries for different purposes such as landscape evolution, morphogenetic detailed maps, disaster risk reduction, and land use planning.

Flood Hazard and Risk Mapping by Applying an Explainable Machine Learning Framework Using Satellite Imagery and GIS Data

“…Recently, numerous studies have been proposed to create flood susceptibility maps as a tool for efficient flood risk management [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Flood susceptibility indicates the propensity of an area, given by its physical-geographical characteristics, to be affected by flooding.…”

Disaster Risk Assessment of Informal Settlements in the Global South

“…The GAM is in the Central Tectonic Depression of Costa Rica [33], which is surrounded by the Central Volcanic Range at the NE to the NW (e.g., Turrialba, Irazú, Barva, Poás, and Platanar volcanoes), and the Talamanca Range at the SE to the SW (Cerros de la Carpintera, Escazú, and Montes del Aguacate). Costa Rica's population reached 5 million in 2018, and approximately 70% of its inhabitants and the highest population densities are settled in the GAM, which only covers 14% of the national surface [34][35][36]. The GAM's geomorphology determines the land uses and therefore the urban expansion and subsequent environmental impacts during the urbanization process of the last century [37][38][39].…”

Sustainable Land Use Dynamic Planning Based on GIS and Symmetric Algorithm

“…In the formula, p X represents the urban land spatial expansion index of unit X. e larger the urban land spatial expansion index, the higher the probability of being allocated as urban land by the government [22]. e probability distribution of various types of land development is used as a constraint condition for the next level of intelligence to make spatial land use decisions [23].…”