Landslide susceptibility and risk assessment in a non-mountainous region – a case study of Koronowo, northern Poland

Abstract

The study deals with landslide threats in a low-relief region which exemplifies an area rarely perceived as prone to such geohazards. Actually, in the gently undulated landscape in the vicinity of Koronowo at the Brda River (South Pomeranian Lake District, northern Poland) intensified landsliding was observed in the recent years. The field mapping and examination of air photos showed that endangered terrains are fairly extensive and cannot be limited to initially identified slope failure incidences (hot-spots). The devised landslide susceptibility and hazard map is an outcome of predictive modelling using empirical likelihood ratio function (LR) with respect to seven evidential layers: elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, flow accumulation, surface deposits, depth to glacial raft, land cover as well as the landslide scars. The values of potential losses were calculated based on the mapped land-use categories and current market prices of estates and services. The final map, which resulted from combining landslide hazard with potential losses, shows damage propensity in a spatial scale of the town surroundings. It is meant as a supportive tool for decision-making with regard to allocating funds for stabilization measures or planning placement of new investments. On this background, stabilization solutions for selected sites are assessed in a cost-benefit context.