Large-scale landslide inventory mapping in lesser Himalaya of Nepal using geographic information system

Abstract

Large-scale landslides are huge deep-seated failed masses that occurred in the geological past. Some of them are dormant while some are still active, creeping, and reactivating causing problems in the form of small-scale failures. Unlike small-scale failures in which the failed masses were already replaced, large-scale landslides built and modified the topography that makes it unique and differentiate from the other stable slope. In the Nepal Himalaya, large-scale landslides are widely distributed in the Lesser Himalayan and Higher Himalayan zones. But, systematic database regarding the large-scale landslide is not available. So, this paper describes a methodology to delineate large-scale landslides and preparation of the inventory map in the Himalayan terrain. Different approaches of landslide inventory mapping using GIS techniques are discussed, and validation methods are proposed.