The assessment of landscape and environmental risks and hazards caused by landslides in mountain areas

Abstract

The landslide is a kind of natural disaster responsible for creation of risks and hazards in relation to population and its economic activity. Each year the occurrence of landslides causes killing of people and economic losses, as well as leads to destruction and deterioration of pastures, arable lands, forests and highways. The southeastern slope of Greater Caucasus is one of the most active landslide zones in Azerbaijan. As a result of the occurrence of landslide in the Mughanli area in 2011, 168 houses out of 279 ones became unusable while the village of the same name was moved to a new residential area. Moreover, the 3 km-long part of the Ismayilli-Mughanli-Shamakhi highway near the village became unusable repeatedly. In 2014, USD 52 million was spent in order to eliminate the consequences of landslides. Topographic maps of scale of 1:10000 and also aerospace images were used to assess the landscape-and environmental risks and hazards caused by landslides. Maps of various factors of the same scales, compiled in ArcGIS program were analysed through GIS technologies, which allowed compilation of a map of relevant landscape-and environmental risks and hazards. The carried out studies will enable to estimate natural disasters and reduce the related economic losses.