Comparative landslide susceptibility mapping using local inventories: a case study from Trabzon, Türkiye

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach to landslide susceptibility mapping by integrating two landslide inventories prepared by different national agencies of Türkiye (MTA and AFAD) in the Trabzon region. By leveraging these different inventories, the study aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding of landslide risks, addressing limitations in previous susceptibility models that typically rely on single inventory sources. Employing the frequency ratio method, the paper generates susceptibility maps from each database to examine the influence of landslides across various environmental factors. Additionally, an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based map, incorporating environmental characteristics, literature, and expert opinions, is developed to provide a third perspective, independent of historical landslide data. The results indicate that AHP model classifies approximately 19.20% of the study area as very high and high susceptibility. In contrast, the MTA and AFAD models assign only 12.40% and 8.80% to high and very high categories, with most areas falling into low to moderate susceptibility. Comparisons with the Global Landslide Hazard Map further highlight the strengths and limitations of localized versus global assessments. This study contributes to the field by demonstrating the benefits of a dual-inventory approach, enhancing the precision of landslide susceptibility maps and providing valuable insights for disaster risk management and sustainable land-use planning.