Multicriteria Analysis for Assessing Socioenvironmental Landslide Hazards in Petrópolis, Brazil

Background: Urban land use often reflects social inequalities, with natural disasters disproportionately affecting lower socio-economic classes. In Petrópolis, RJ, landslides pose a significant risk to vulnerable populations, requiring urgent attention. Objective: This study identifies areas with the highest potential for landslides in Petrópolis. Overlaying these findings with urban land use data highlights the most vulnerable zones, providing critical insights for targeted mitigation measures to save lives and minimize socio-economic impacts. Methods: Geo-referenced information on natural, economic, and social factors was obtained from public authorities and processed using GIS tools. Data analysis incorporated SAGA and ArcGIS Pro to develop landslide risk maps. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) calculated expert-informed weights for key hazard factors. Results: The analysis identified environmental land use (13%), slope (10%), pedology (11%), and population income (10%) as the most critical factors influencing landslide vulnerability. Informal settlements were predominantly at risk, with urban expansion into environmentally sensitive areas exacerbating the issue. Conclusion: The findings highlight the necessity of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to design and implement effective mitigation strategies. Integrating socio-economic and environmental data into disaster risk planning requires the combined expertise of urban planners, policymakers, and researchers.