NZARM Masterclass: GNS - Science: Landscape mapping for resource managers

Landslides can be mapped in a GIS using a variety of imagery and techniques. Brenda Rosser covered the basics of identifying landslides in the field, landslide mapping using GIS, and landslide susceptibility assessment
at the NZARM 2023 Conference.

Brenda also discussed the below points
- Data and imagery sources available for mapping landslides (aerial
photography, satellite imagery, LiDAR etc)
- Identifying landslide features in imagery (manual and semi-automated)
- Identifying landslides in the field
- Tools for landslide susceptibility and hazard mapping

Landslide inventories underpin landslide hazard and risk assessments. They are essential for developing susceptibility models that predict where landslides are likely to occur based on where landslides occurred in the past and what conditions triggered them. We also need to understand the relationships between landslides and the underlying geophysical factors that control landslide susceptibility. Landslide inventories, developed by mapping landslides, provide information on the landslide triggering factors (eg. storm rainfall), as well as the geophysical factors at each landslide location. Landslide hazard assessments are greatly enhanced if they include information on the magnitude, encompassing the distribution (number and location), type, density, size and impacts of landslides, and temporal frequency of past landslide events.