Investigating Factors of Slope Failure for Different Landsliding Sites in Murree Area, Using Geomatics Techniques

Samiullah  Khan; Usman  Ahmad; Sajid Rashid  Ahmad; Zia Ul  Mustafa; Muhammad  Luqman; Muhammad  Nawaz; Asif  Javed

doi:10.4236/gep.2015.38004

Zia Ul Mustafa^1,2, Sajid Rashid Ahmad¹, Muhammad Luqman^1,2^*, Usman Ahmad¹, Samiullah Khan¹, Muhammad Nawaz³, Asif Javed^3,4

Abstract: Throughout the mountainous part of Pakistan, Murree is considered to host the worst slide affected areas. Landslide risk assessment, mapping and analysis is a labour intensive and time consuming work by using conventional field based methods. In this study Geomatics techniques have been applied on digital data such as satellite image and DEM, to investigate some possible causes of slope failure in selected landslide risk zones. The Remote sensing technology and GIS capabilities have been implemented using Landsat TM (30 m) multispectral data and Aster DEM (30 m). Satellite image and digital elevation model have been used to generate rock type map, aspect map, streams order map and slope map. The possible factors of slope failure for different zones of land sliding have been predicted by integrating information from all maps. It has been found that major causes of slope failure have been addressed, also it has been noted that water is the most dominant factor to cause land sliding in Murree area. Results are available for supporting hazard studies, disaster management and future development plans.

Keywords: Landslide, Pakistan, Geomatics, Hazard, Landsat, DEM, GIS

Cite this paper: Mustafa, Z. , Ahmad, S. , Luqman, M. , Ahmad, U. , Khan, S. , Nawaz, M. and Javed, A. (2015) Investigating Factors of Slope Failure for Different Landsliding Sites in Murree Area, Using Geomatics Techniques. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 3, 39-45. doi: 10.4236/gep.2015.38004.

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