Comparing multi-criteria methods for landslide susceptibility mapping in Chania Prefecture, Crete Island, Greece

Abstract

In this work, two multi-criteria methods, an expert-based, semi-quantitative, relative weighting - rating approach, the weighted linear combination (WLC) and a quantitative, statistical method, the weights of evidence (WoE) approach were applied for landslide susceptibility zonation mapping in the Chania Prefecture of Crete Island, Greece. Several thematic maps representing various landslide casual factors, such as geological formations, faults proximity, elevation, slope gradient, aspect and curvature, rivers proximity, precipitation, roads proximity and land use types; have been generated in a GIS environment. Two landslide susceptibility maps were created; one for each method. The maps were compared and validated using the success rate curve (SRC) analysis. The resulting landslide susceptibility maps have uncertainties introduced due to the subjective knowledge of experts in the case of WLC method and to the quality of the recorded landslides sample in the case of the WoE method. Both approaches produced almost equally accurate maps with the WoE method to produce slightly superior predictions.