Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Using Weight of Evidence (WoE) Method in Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Mexico

Abstract. The Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA), characterized by complex lithology, rugged topography, intense rainfall, and increasing anthropogenic pressures, faces increasing landslide hazards. This study applies a quantitative approach using the weight of evidence (WoE) method to assess landslide susceptibility across the MMA. A total of 292 historical landslide events were mapped using aerial imagery and archival data, with a 70/30 split for model training and validation. Twelve conditioning factors—including slope, lithology, elevation, hydrology, and land use—were analyzed to determine their influence on landslide occurrence. The resulting susceptibility map was classified into five risk categories using the Natural Breaks method. Model validation using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 0.77, indicating good predictive accuracy. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the WoE method in landslide susceptibility mapping and provide a valuable tool for risk management and territorial planning in the region.