Reducing Subjectivity in Landslide Hazard Zonation Method: An Integrated Methodology

Reducing Subjectivity in Landslide Hazard Zonation Method: An Integrated Methodology | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Reducing Subjectivity in Landslide Hazard Zonation Method: An Integrated Methodology Searom Gebremicheal, Tegene Wubshet This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5319618/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 09 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in Geoenvironmental Disasters → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study was conducted in Sheko District, Southwestern Ethiopia. The area has been experiencing recurrent landslide problems for several years. Due to the severity of these slope instability issues, this study was undertaken. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate landslide hazard using a new methodology and to validate its efficiency. An integrated Slope stability Susceptibility Evaluation Parameter and Geographic Information System based statistical Value approach was employed. Facet-wise field measurement and observations were made, and ratings for each parameter class were assigned based on the prevailing conditions on individual facets. By establishing the density relationship between past landslides in the study area computation of hazard index and modifying rating to come up with the new methodology rating has been done. The evaluate landslide hazard map produced by the integrated approach classifies the study area into four zones, low hazard, moderate hazard, high hazard and Vey high hazard zones. Out of a total of 303 facets evaluated using the integrated approach, covering an area of 0.469 km 2 , 8 facets are classified as falling under the low hazard zone, 232 facets are classified as falling under the moderate hazard zone, 62 facets classified as high hazard zones with area coverage of 27.064 \(\:{\:\text{K}\text{m}}^{2}\) , which count for approximately 25.7% of the study area, one facet (Facet 286) classified as very high hazard zone with area coverage of 0.223 \(\:{\:\text{K}\text{m}}^{2}\) , approximately 0.21% of the study area. Landslide evaluation Landslide hazard Slope instability Hazard index Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 09 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in Geoenvironmental Disasters → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 08 Feb, 2025 Reviews received at journal 09 Jan, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Jan, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 31 Dec, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Dec, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Dec, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 04 Nov, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 28 Oct, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Oct, 2024 First submitted to journal 23 Oct, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5319618","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":374082742,"identity":"44871c33-bbce-4f46-9822-ed894c38679a","order_by":0,"name":"Searom Gebremicheal","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAuUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYPACGwjFQ4KWNIhqHhK0HSZBi3x787MPH3POR9tLJDA+eNvGIGdPSIvBmWPGM2duu53bI5HAbDi3jcGYoC0GEgnGzLwQLWzSvG0MiT0EHTb/+WeglnMgLey/gVrqCWphuMEDsuUA2BZmoJYEwg47k1PMOHNbcm7PmYfNknPOSRj2HCDksPbjmxk+brPLbW9PPvjhTZmNPHsDQZfBASNIrQTx6kfBKBgFo2AU4AYA3Bc5iJzZ0IIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Mizan Tepi University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Searom","middleName":"","lastName":"Gebremicheal","suffix":""},{"id":374082743,"identity":"2063175f-8887-42d3-8aa0-caa35feb0d6f","order_by":1,"name":"Tegene Wubshet","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Mizan Tepi University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tegene","middleName":"","lastName":"Wubshet","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-10-23 14:08:56","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5319618/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5319618/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-026-00365-9","type":"published","date":"2026-02-09T15:57:17+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102786314,"identity":"cb7221b6-35cf-4de4-a12b-d74cab0a03b4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-16 16:12:41","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2319492,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5319618/v1_covered_a171e762-ba36-48af-8d4c-c27eebfb7b27.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Reducing Subjectivity in Landslide Hazard Zonation Method: An Integrated Methodology","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"geoenvironmental-disasters","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"gedi","sideBox":"Learn more about [Geoenvironmental Disasters](http://geoenvironmental-disasters.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"40677","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40677/3","title":"Geoenvironmental Disasters","twitterHandle":"@SpringerOpen","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Landslide evaluation, Landslide hazard, Slope instability, Hazard index","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5319618/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5319618/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study was conducted in Sheko District, Southwestern Ethiopia. The area has been experiencing recurrent landslide problems for several years. Due to the severity of these slope instability issues, this study was undertaken. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate landslide hazard using a new methodology and to validate its efficiency. An integrated Slope stability Susceptibility Evaluation Parameter and Geographic Information System based statistical Value approach was employed.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFacet-wise field measurement and observations were made, and ratings for each parameter class were assigned based on the prevailing conditions on individual facets. By establishing the density relationship between past landslides in the study area computation of hazard index and modifying rating to come up with the new methodology rating has been done.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe evaluate landslide hazard map produced by the integrated approach classifies the study area into four zones, low hazard, moderate hazard, high hazard and Vey high hazard zones. Out of a total of 303 facets evaluated using the integrated approach, covering an area of 0.469 km\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e, 8 facets are classified as falling under the low hazard zone, 232 facets are classified as falling under the moderate hazard zone, 62 facets classified as high hazard zones with area coverage of 27.064\u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:{\\:\\text{K}\\text{m}}^{2}\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e, which count for approximately 25.7% of the study area, one facet (Facet 286) classified as very high hazard zone with area coverage of 0.223\u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:{\\:\\text{K}\\text{m}}^{2}\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e, approximately 0.21% of the study area.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Reducing Subjectivity in Landslide Hazard Zonation Method: An Integrated Methodology","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-11-05 13:01:47","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5319618/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-02-08T06:04:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-01-09T11:04:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-01-03T15:33:23+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"286195733050277932398951090827550810586","date":"2024-12-31T14:37:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"7132290337575424449042410308838550302","date":"2024-12-28T04:59:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"81910800795694814040856242828179733242","date":"2024-12-10T08:04:06+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-11-04T05:48:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-10-28T13:09:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-10-25T06:18:40+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Geoenvironmental Disasters","date":"2024-10-23T14:06:58+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"geoenvironmental-disasters","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"gedi","sideBox":"Learn more about [Geoenvironmental Disasters](http://geoenvironmental-disasters.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"40677","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40677/3","title":"Geoenvironmental Disasters","twitterHandle":"@SpringerOpen","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e03a1d60-6f9b-42c1-867c-ff4622e20d1f","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 5th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-16T16:09:19+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5319618","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-026-00365-9","journal":{"identity":"geoenvironmental-disasters","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Geoenvironmental Disasters"},"publishedOn":"2026-02-09 15:57:17","publishedOnDateReadable":"February 9th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-11-05 13:01:47","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s40677-026-00365-9","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-026-00365-9","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5319618","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5319618","identity":"rs-5319618","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}