Probabilistic frequency ratio (PFR) model for quality improvement of landslide susceptibility mapping from LiDAR-derived DEMs

Abstract

This paper expands the previous efforts by other researchers to present a quantitative and deterministic approach for terrain analysis. This study evaluates both spatial and temporal factors contributing landslides utilizing Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point clouds in conjunction with the frequency ratio model (PFR) than has previously been used in the Alborz Mountains. The study area is Marzan Abad of the Alborz Mountain in Iran. The significance of this study is the performance of a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) derived from LiDAR point clouds in order to provide detailed information in improving landslide susceptibility evaluation. This study discusses how we improve the quality of landslide susceptibility evaluation. We apply the PFR model to consider the effect of landslide-related factors associated with Google Earth’s high-resolution images and field observations. The LiDAR point cloud data and GIS-based analysis have allowed performing high quality ways of landslide hazard assessments using inventory dataset as compared to previous studies. We contributed an improved landslide inventory map of the Mazandaran Province. We used image elements interpretation from the available ASTER DEM (30 m), LiDAR-DEM (5 m), and the Google Earth high spatial resolution images in conjunction with the field observations. This study evaluates factors such as geology, geomorphology, landuse, soil, slope, and distance from roads and drainage to represent, manipulate, and analyze factors. Also, we evaluated the performance success of the rate curve of landslides susceptibility. The results have indicated an improved landslide susceptibility map from LiDAR-derived DEMs implementing the PFR model with 92.59% of accuracy performance as compared to the existing data and previous studies in the same region. Furthermore, this study reveals that all considering factors have relatively positive effects on the landslides susceptibility mapping in the study, however, the most effective factor on the landslide occurrence is the lithology with 13.7%.

Background

Landslides are one of the most common deformation scenarios in the real-world environment. Almost every year catastrophic landslides cause loss of lives and result in billions of dollars in property damage around the world. Landslide-prone areas reconnaissance is playing a major role for decision makers to prepare a loss reduction plan. Identification and spatial distribution of landslides require knowledge of not only geologic and geomorphic processes, but also of state-of-the-art technologies including geographical information system (GIS). Moreover, LiDAR and Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV) techniques have become excellent tools to improve landslide recognition processes for mapping (Haugerud et al. 2003; Eeckhaut and Van, 2007; Liu et al. 2012; Pirasteh and Li 2016).

Numerous research have been attempted on landslide hazards to study slope instability hazards mapping (Carrara et al. 1991; Carrara et al. 1999; Guzzetti et al. 1999; Barredo et al. 2000; Pack and Tarboton 2004; Guzzetti et al.2005; Roering et al. 2009; Pirasteh et al. 2011; Su et al. 2015). Also, some researchers applied deterministic models for landslide susceptibility mapping and modelling (Binaghi et al. 1999; Westen and Terlien 1996; Watts 2004; Sarkar and Kanungo 2004; Pradhan and Pirasteh, 2010; Zhou et al. 2003; Lee and Dan 2005; Lee et al. 2004; Westen et al. 2008; Jebur et al. 2014). Moreover, they have applied the logistic regression model to landslide hazard mapping (Lee and Pradhan 2006; Choi et al. 2012). Recently, landslide hazard evaluation carried out by using fuzzy logic, and artificial neural network models (Lee et al. 2004; Yilmaz 2010; Lee et al. 2014). During the last decade, researchers indicated that landslide susceptibility and deformation measurement have extensively performed particularly for the landslides assessment (Luzi et al. 2000; Schulz 2004; Su and Bork 2006; Streutker and Glenn 2006; Schulz 2007). They have integrated traditional and advanced methods such as classical geodetic surveying techniques (i.e. theodolites, photogrammetry, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)), LiDAR, satellite based observation systems, and the GIS technology by applying stochastic and deterministic models. However, the weakness is that the points collected from theodolites, photogrammetry, levels and GNSS, satellite imageries, perform quite low in density. For example, McKean and Roering (2003) studied the low-density digital elevation model (DEM) to determine the potential to differentiate morphologically components within a landslide (Lee and Dan 2005; Glen et al. 2006; Lee and Pradhan 2006; Yilmaz 2010; Niculită 2016). They explored how to provide insight into the material type and activity of the slide. As a result, the literature review indicated that these techniques and low pixel resolutions of DEM and satellite imageries could not provide sufficient enough accuracy to visualize the objects extracting an informative description of the landslide locations and to predict the probability of the landslides occurrence.

In this study, a high-resolution LiDAR DEM (5 m) has associated with the ASTER DEM (15-m spatial resolution). The Google Earth high-resolution images were used in conjunction with the existing spatial distribution inventory landslides map (1:25,000 scale, Natural Resources of Iran) to apply the PFR model. This approach can contribute a new potential method to research scholars improving landslide evaluation and the quality of susceptibility mapping prediction. Therefore, we collected the existing inventory spatial distribution of landslides data, Google Earth’s images, LiDAR point clouds, and ASTER data to study landslides probability prediction of the Alborz Mountains in Iran.

The Iranian plateau has potential to earthquakes and of various kinds of landslides (Ali et al. 2003a; Ali et al. 2003b; Ali and Pirasteh 2004; Pirasteh et al. 2009; Jaboyedoff et al. 2012; Pirasteh et al. 2015; Niculită 2016) because of a high tectonic activity, rugged topography, geological setting, and climatologic variety. Most of these landslides occur within two main mountain ranges. They are a) Alborz range with NE-NW trend and b) the Zagros range with NW-SE trend. Landslides risk in Alborz range, particularly in the Central Alborz, has a higher risk than other regions (Shoaei et al. 2005). In the last decades, the study area has experienced landslides in the Central Alborz for example, the Hajiabad- Oshan Road in 2003, Fasham-Meygon road in 2006, and Atashgah-e-Karaj in 2008. Moreover, several landslides and rock fall occurred in the Chalus–Tehran road that was induced by Baladeh-Kojour earthquake on 28th May 2004. These catastrophic landslides have proven that a significant attention with an improved method such as LiDAR high-resolution DEM associated with the PFR approach requires evaluating landslides susceptibility mapping. Therefore, we have selected the Marzan Abad area from the Central Alborz, as it is highly populated area and susceptible to landslides, particularly those of which are triggered by earthquakes.

The objectives of this study are a) to use the LiDAR point clouds of a high-resolution DEM to associate with contributing factors, and b) to improve the quality performance of the PFR model in assessing and predicting landslide susceptible areas in the Central Alborz by evaluating LiDAR point clouds of a high-resolution DEM and other influencing factors. Nevertheless, this study contributes the effectiveness of the LiDAR point clouds on improving the performance of landslide susceptible assessments, and how it increases the quality of the PFR model outcomes. In order to satisfy the above objectives, landslide susceptibility analysis techniques have been applied and verified in the study area using the previous research outcomes. We have also assessed landslide-related factors in the GIS software (ArcGIS 10.4) by implementing the analysis tools for spatial management and data manipulation. Finally, we had achieved an acceptable accuracy of landslide susceptibility map by applying the PFR model when we used a high-resolution of DEM.

Study area

The Iranian plateau is the part of the Eurasian Plate wedged between Arabian and Indian plates. It situates between the Zagros mountains to the west, the Caspian Sea and the Koppeh Dagh to the north, the Hormuz Strait and the Persian Gulf to the south, and the Hindu Kush to the east. Alborz Mountainous in the north of Iran constitutes a narrow belt of only 100 km wide. These mountains are a part of Alpine-Himalayan system in the western part of Asia which wraps around the South Caspian Sea from the northwest to northeast of Iran (more than 1500 km). The study area is located in the Central Alborz at a distance of 30 km to the Caspian Sea in the north, and 100 km to the capital city of Tehran in the south. It covers an area of about 1048 km² and locates between Latitudes 36°15′00″ N to 36°35′00″ N and Longitudes 51°07′30″ E to 51° 27′30″ E (4,014,000 N–4048000 N and 511184E-541004E in UTM) as presented in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

a Study area of the Central Alborz Mountains. b Landslides inventory of geographical distribution in Iran

The elevation of the study area decreases from the south (about 4000 m) to the north, in runoff Chalus River. Chalus River is one of the most important rivers in the Central Alborz and cuts the area in the northeast, and is forming a deeply incised valley. This river transfers water from high-lands with annual precipitation less than 400 mm to the lowlands in the south of the Caspian with annual precipitation of above 1000 mm.

Method

Data collection and preparation

Data collection and preparation are the first fundamental and essential step to the landslide hazard analysis. In this study, we composed the GIS database into five parts: 1) Generating of a high-resolution (5 m) LiDAR DEM and 15 m spatial resolution of the ASTER DEM (VNIR), 2) Google Earth’s images, 3) landslide inventory map, 4) landslide predisposing factor maps and topography maps, and 5) Global Positioning System (GPS) data collection from field observations.

The existing landslides inventory spatial distribution of the area (Fig. 1) has given insights to recognize the landslide prone areas. Newly, landslides have been extracted from the LiDAR high-resolution DEM and the ASTER DEM in conjunction with field observations (Fig. 2). The visual image interpretation of the DEMs and Google Earth’s images (dated in December 2009, December 2010, December 2011, December 2012, December 2013, December 2014, December 2015, and December 2016) in conjunction with field observations (i.e ground control points (GCPs)) were carried out in the ENVI 4.2 software by using geotechnical and photographic elements. The ENVI 4.2 software allows us to operate a digital image processing (DIP) such as geometric correction, enhancement, and filtering on Google Earth’s images.

Fig. 2

Landslides in Imamzadeh Ali, Marzan Abad, Central Alborz Mountains

The landslide susceptibility evaluation requires knowledge of factors leading to landslide analyses. We have determined the influencing factors of the landslides (Varnes 1978; Anbalagan 1992; Brunsden, 1996; Guzzetti et al. 1999; Donati and Turrini 2002; Zhou et al. 2002; Jebur et al. 2014). The reviewed literature and field investigations have identified that the most influencing factors in the study area are: Topography, lithology, soil, geomorphology, steepness of slopes, land use, and distance from road networks and drainage (Nichol and Wong 2005; Metternicht et al. 2005). We have subdivided each category into different classes by its value or feature. All influencing factors have obtained or created in the form of maps, and they are representing large quantities of spatial data. The preparation of a susceptibility mapping involves manipulating, analyzing, and presenting data in the GIS.

In this study, we have prepared the digital geology map of the study area based on a combination of two analog geological sheet maps at 1:100,000 scale, namely Marzan Abad and Chalus, (Geology Survey of Iran 2001) and Google Earth’s image interpretation (Fig. 1). We have created the geomorphology map based on the geology and topography map in 1:25,000 scales associated with the ASTER DEM. A slope thematic map was extracted from the LiDAR high-resolution DEM of the area with a spatial resolution of 5 m (Fig. 3). We collected the soil map (1:25,000 scale) from the Ministry of Natural Resources of Iran. A field survey has verified the given digital soil map. Road and drainage maps were extracted from the topography map of the study area (National Cartographic Center organization) of 1:25,000 scale. The landuse thematic map and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the study area were provided by the Natural Resources of Mazandaran. The landuse map was modified by a field check. Table 1 depicts the summarized information about data layers.

Fig. 3

LiDAR high-resolution TIN. Showing landslides on the triangular irregular network (TIN) model of the study area

Table 1 Predisposing factors and GIS data in for the study area

Processing of LiDAR point cloud data

In spatial analysis measurements, the high-resolution DEM and its derivatives such as slope have been considered for the landslide susceptibility mapping. The high-resolution DEM of the Central Alborz is the most useful representation of terrain in the GIS for spatial analysis. A high-resolution DEM is the raster representation, in which each grid cell records the elevation of the earth’s surface, and reflects a view of terrain as a field of elevation values. In this study, a resolution of 5 m in the pixel was applied for grids to generate the high-resolution DEM.

LiDAR point cloud data in LAS format were collected for the Marzan Abad from the Central of Alborz Mountain. We used LAS data to generate a DEM in ArcGIS software. To process the data we used a semi-automated method to remove the noise and classify the objects (Evans et al. 2009). This semi-automated method allowed us to detect and interpret particular objects in the study area. The pre-processing technique has been applied to the point cloud data to achieve the certain level of quality data before it uses for a landslide susceptibility mapping. We extracted the bare-earth (i.e. segregating objects such as trees from the surface and extracting the earth’s surface). This process has a direct impact on the quality of the DEM and landslide investigations. During last decades, various solutions and algorithms for the classification of the LiDAR data were published (Glenn et al. 2006; Derron and Jaboyedoff 2010; Su et al. 2015). The method was based on the surface interpolation and the DEM was generated based on the X,Y,Z points of the whole study area (Pfeifer et al. 1998). To determine the relationship and influence of each individual grid of factors such as landuse etc. within the whole DEM of the study area in the GIS, we are required to consider the whole DEM and the individual factor to identify the number of pixel/grid’s contribution to a landslide. We used Hierarchical Robust Filtering (HRF) method and ArcGIS 10.4 software to develop the high-resolution DEM and TIN of the study area (Fig. 3). The HRF method is originally designed for laser data in the vegetated and rugged topography areas such as Central Alborz Mountains.

This algorithm is embedded in the SCOP++ software. The HRF is also called as robust interpolation method and it involves four processing approaches. They are 1) thin out, 2) filter, 3) interpolate, and 4) sort out. The thin out approach is a raster based thinning algorithm. It lays a grid over the complete data and selects one point for each cell. In the filter approach, a DEM is computed, but this time a weighting function. It is used to provide a low to high computational weighting for each cell. The weight function has a half of its maximum value (h is the half–width value) at h above round (g). These values determine the steepness of the weight function at a particular point. The cut off refers to “t” in the right tail the weight function (Fig. 4). As for the interpolation, a DEM is derived from the current data set by interpolation approach without differentiating data points. As for the sort out step, we define the distance from the calculated DEM by data points and three iterations. The classifying step has completed the filtering procedure. The major extension of the sort out step was to classify step.

Fig. 4

Weight function (Pfeifer et al., 1998)

ASTER DEM

ASTER images are in the form of HDF-EOS. We can work on these images to import them by using the software Ortho-Engine as part of the PCI Gemomatica 9.1. DEMs were generated automatically by using DEM extraction tool from the PCI Gemomatica 9.1. Figure 5 illustrates the flowchart of the methodology employed for ASTER DEM generation. We selected stereo images VNIR nadir and backward images (3 N and 3B) to generated the DEM. A detailed description of the procedure provided by Al-Rousan et al. (1997) and Ulrich et al. (2003). In this study, we collected 23 tie points (TPs) between the stereo-pair because we have not ground control points (GCPs) available. The elevation for some TPs was known. By using the PCI Gemomatica 9.1 we could extract the total RMS of the TPs which is <1.17 pixel. The 3D DEM of the study area (Fig. 6) was generated at 30-m pixel resolution with the highest level, and the holes were filled by automated interpolation (Fig. 5). The quality of the ASTER DEM was satisfactory. However, we re-sampled the DEM into 15 m to exploit the full ortho-image resolution (Al-Rousan et al. 1997; Kamp et al. 2003).

Fig. 5

Flowchart of the ASTER DEM generation

Fig. 6

3D of the ASTER DEM of the Central Alborz shows scarp fault and lanslide of Lasem in the study area

PFR model approach

In this study, we assumed that future landslides would occur under similar circumstances to those of previous landslides. This study applies the PFR model based on the given assumption. Frequency ratio approach is based on the observed relationships between the distribution of landslides and each landslide-related factor, to reveal the correlation between landslide locations and the factors in the study area (Lee and Pradhan 2006). In order to apply the PFR model, a spatial database of landslide-related factors was constructed in the GIS platform. All data layers (Table 1) were converted to the GIS format and were geo-referenced into the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system, and maps have represented each factor in the GIS environment (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7

Represents influencing factors and maps in the GIS environment. a Landsat TM satellite image, (b) DEM, (c) hillshaded, (d) Landuse, (e) Soil, and (f) lithology of Marzan Abad and study area

Then we construct maps of various factors in different classes. A fine grid was overlaid over the study area. Each grid cell represents a small unit area (rasterization). The data layers have obtained a square-grid matrix with 3400 lines by 2982 columns, and each pixel represented 5 × 5 m area on the ground (Fig. 3). By utilizing the overlay of training subsets of landslides, geospatial distribution map, and different predisposing factors’ ranges such as topography, the spatial relationship between landslide locations and each factor’s range was extracted. The numbers of landslide occurrence pixels in each class were evaluated, then the Frequency Ratio (FR) value for each factor’s range was calculated. It allows dividing the occurrence landslide ratio by the area ratio. Landslide frequency ratio can be calculated by the ratio of percent domain of a factor class and percent landslide in that class. Then the frequency ratio (FR) method has implemented to evaluate the rank of correlation between the selected factor’s ranges (i.e. slope, land use, soil, lithology, distance from drainage, and distance from the road network) and landslide locations in the study area. The value of 1 for FR value is an average value. In this study, we defined that the greater ratio above the unity means the stronger correlation is between the selected factors and landslides geographical distribution. Likewise, the lower ratio than unity means we have a lower correlation between landslide occurrence and the given factors attribute. Therefore, based on the calculated FR values, the relation of each category’s factor with landslide occurrences have been evaluated. After the FR values calculation, we calculated the Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI) for each pixel of the study area. This method considers a point x with m (number of layers) pixel values (×1,…, xm) in the study area. In pixel x, LSI can be calculated by summation pixel values (×1,…., xm), as indicated by the following equation:

$$ LSI=\sum {Fr}_{\left(1,\dots m\right)} $$

(1)

Performance of the effect analysis

One of the fundamental steps in the FR approach and the landslide susceptibility mapping process is validation. We have applied the authentic process to determine the reliability of the previous data and parameters that involve in the present study. We obtained the data from the Geological Survey of Iran and the National Geoscience Database of Iran. We have verified the performance of our result by comparing the existing landslide inventory geospatial distribution map with the landslide susceptibility map (a cross-validation technique). Previous studies (Dietrich et al. 1995; Duan and Grant 2000; Lee and Dan 2005; Liu et al. 2012; Jebur et al. 2014) used “success rate” to evaluate the model performance. The success rate is defined as a ratio of how many actual landslide sites are successfully predicted and allow us to estimate the goodness of the fit of the predictive models with actual landslide sites.

In this study, the results of the landslide susceptibility analysis and the prepared landslide prediction map have verified using the test subset of landslides for the same study areas. Test subset includes unconsidered landslide locations (20% of all) and some newly mapped landslides through image interpretation and ground truth observations with the help of the Global Positioning System (GPS) (Fig. 8). Intersections between the prediction image and total landslide locations allowed us to compute the number of occurred landslides in each LSI values. However, the method could determine the performance of the output information, and the approach has improved the method of landslide evaluation for susceptibility mapping utilizing the LiDAR high-resolution DEM.

Fig. 8

Field observations and newly mapped landslides verified landsides extraction from the raster image interpretation of the LiDAR high-resolution DEM

Nevertheless, a far less conventional procedure in conjunction with the state-of-the-art technologies such as LiDAR high-resolution data and PFR method results in a much more satisfying outcome for all concerned. The calculated index values of cells sorted in descending order to obtain the success rate of the curve. We divided the ordered cell values into hundred classes and accumulated 1% intervals to present the percentage of landslides in the study area. Also, some landslide occurrence in each Index value are representing as a percentage of total landslides cumulatively. Effect analysis studies have associated with the high-resolution of DEM and landslide influencing factors indicated how a solution could change when the input factors are changed. This analysis quantifies the uncertainty of each factor. In this study, the effect analyses have been conducted by the exclusion of each factor in turn during the summation stage using Eq. 1. However, the effect of each contributed factor evaluates the related success rates by using the area under the curve calculation.

Results and discussion

PFR model and factors analysis: an improved landslides susceptibility map

We used LiDAR point clouds DEM and ASTER DEM to identify newly landslides from existing inventory dataset in conjunction with the field observations. The high-resolution of LiDAR DEM has a better performance identifying new landslides than ASTER DEM, and also implementing the PFR model from LiDAR DEM demonstrates an acceptance precision and quality of the susceptibility mapping. The study shows that geology is playing a major role in controlling factors for landslides in the Central of Alborz since the geology of this area is very complex. Lithologically, the study area comprises several formations as depicted in Table 2. The FR calculations (Table 3) results that the highest FR values are the most susceptible groups for landslides occurrence. They belong to areas with some geological layers outcrops such as Q₁, K₁₁,P_n, K_M2, and K_1M2 (FR: 39.5, 9.0, 3.3, 1.5, and 1.5, respectively).

Table 2 Different formations and lito-units in the study area

Table 3 Frequency ratio of factors to landslide occurrence

These groups are mainly including marl, marl limestone, limestone, shale associated with old landslides, and rock stream traces which mostly are fissile, soluble and easily weathered materials. The lowest FR values (FR = 0) belong to geological groups including J₁, TR₃J_s, P_d, E_d, E1, O₁, P_1q, and PE_e. FR values are showing a very low correlation with landslide occurrence (Table 3). Thus, we predict a very low susceptibility of landslide occurrence in these classes. The strata mostly contain dolomite, cherty dolomite sandstone, siltstone, and quartzite. We identified that they are among the resistance and hard fracturing litho units in the study area.

Landuse map has indicated that the most hazardous classes are in the lake area (coastal landslides), agricultural lands, and grasslands (FR value 3.8, 2.6, and 1.3, respectively). It is because of geological characteristics (K_1M2 and Q₁) and water influences in the coastal area. Thus we expect a higher FR values than other locations. In the study area, the agricultural lands are controversial because the landuse and landcover situation of Marzan Abad area at the time of failure is unknown. Moreover, it is not possible to know whether the presence of agricultural lands was a cause of failure or consequence. In fact, it is also possible to possibly say the changes in steepness are due to the evolution of the scarps that may have favored with agricultural lands. This study shows that deep soils from alluvial and fine alluvial soils are the most susceptible groups for landslide occurrence with FR > 2. Geomorphologically, deep valleys and debris lands are the most susceptible classes with FR > 2. Alluvial fan and alluvial plain area have the lowest susceptibility of landslide occurrence with FR = 0 that we have not expected.

The relationships between landslide occurrences and the slope show that gentle slopes have a low frequency of landslides because they have a lower shear stress. We found that at a slope of 10° or less, the frequency ratio was below 1. It is indicating a low probability of landslide occurrence. However, slopes above 11° have a ratio of >1 are showing a higher likelihood of landslide occurrence. The areas with slope steepness of more than 40° and cover a less than 4% of the area are mostly covered by bedrocks (i.e. volcanic rocks). However, this part of the study area with slope steepness of more than 40° have a lower probability of a landslide.

This study reveals that road networks have a strong relationship with landslide occurrence because of cut-slope creations through roads construction. We found that the closer distance to the road, the greater the chances of a landslide occurring. The distance of <100 m, are the most susceptible class with FR > 3, and areas with a distance of >800 m from the road network show a minor relationship with landslide occurrence (FR < 1).

Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI) calculation shows that the LSI has a minimum range value of susceptibility class of 2.3, and a maximum range value of susceptibility class of 55.7, with an average value of 6.95 and a standard deviation of 5.02 (Table 4). Nevertheless, we prepared the geospatial distribution of updated landslide inventory dataset which illustrated on the Landsat TM; and this improved inventory dataset includes recent landslides, minor-medium and human casualties landslides (Fig. 9). The final landslide susceptibility map in five susceptibility prediction class based on the LSI values (Fig. 10).

Table 4 Statistics of the LSI value for all cases

Fig. 9

Geospatial distribution of landslides inventory and recent landslides on the Landsat TM (RGB:742) imagery

Fig. 10

Landslide susceptibility and hazards prediction map of Marzan Abad area, Central Alborz Mountains

Figure 11 shows the evaluated success rate curve is very steep in the first part of the curve. It means an excellent predictive capability. This study found that more than 50% of the landslides are locating in 3% of the area where landslide hazards index have a higher rank. Also, about 22% of the study area has predicted as the most hazardous areas. However, we found that 90% of landslides are in these regions. The area under the curve (AUC) (Fig. 11) assesses the prediction accuracy, and the total area = 1 denotes a perfect prediction. In this study area, the ratio is about 0.926. The study has indicated 92.6% agreement between the prepared susceptibility map and landslide locations from the existing landslide inventory geospatial distribution map and the field observations. However, it is a very promising result, and we improved the quality of the landslide susceptibility mapping by using the LiDAR high-resolution DEM associated with PFR model.

Fig. 11

Showing success rate of the curve

Figure 12 shows seven success rate prepared by the exclusion of each factors’ values from the original susceptibility map. Also, Table 4 depicts statistics of the LSI value for all cases.

Fig. 12

Prepared success rates by the exclusion of each factor’s values

This study reveals that by using the effect analysis, we can know the influence of factors on the landslide susceptibility map, qualitatively. However, the selection of positive factors associated with the PFR and a high-resolution DEM and its derivatives can improve the prediction accuracy of the landslide susceptibility map. Table 4 shows that geology of the area is the most important and the most effective factor on landslide analysis (AUC ratio = 0.789) in Marzan Abad area. In addition to geology, the roads network (AUC ratio = 0.909) and soil (AUC ratio = 0.915) have the most influencing factors on the evaluation of landslide susceptibility mapping. Despite from the mentioned factors, all other effective factors are showing a relatively small and a positive effect on landslides analysis (AUC ratio < 0.926). It can be concluded that all selected factors have some positive influence on the landslide hazards analysis and improved landslides prediction.

Conclusion and suggestion

This study can motivate the Iranian Government to capture the LiDAR point cloud data for development of big data and geodata analytics for the landslide inventory of Iran. We concluded that how LiDAR DEM high-resolution impacts the PFR model outcomes and increases the precision and quality of the susceptibility mapping as compared with the ASTER DEM with 15 m in resolution. As an advanced technique, LiDAR could provide a good set of three-dimensional data with X, Y and Z axis of Marzan Abad area. The PFR model applies on the high-resolution DEM, and its derivative such as slope has provided an improved quality of outcomes of landslide susceptibility mapping in conjunction with the ASTER DEM and Google Earth’s images. This study provides detailed information such as color, geologic, and geomorphic using LiDAR data to generate an improved quality of DEM’s derivatives to assess and predict landslides.

This study concluded that movements and landslide predisposing factors such as topography are similar to those verified landslides in the past. Therefore, this enables us to predict the future slides occurring in a non-specified time span. This study constructs acceptable relationships between improved landslide inventory (Fig. 9) spatial distribution and influencing factors for landslide susceptibility mapping utilizing PFR model and LiDAR approach extracted a high-resolution DEM. The PFR was applied to study the influence of different earth surface factors on the landslide occurrence and evaluating the landslide susceptibility. This model has advantages such as simplicity, and moreover, inputs, outputs, and calculation process are understandable. Also, a large amount of data can be processed in the GIS environment quickly and easily. Based on the qualitative studies, the influencing factors on the landslide susceptibility map were evaluated to select positive factors and to improve the prediction accuracy of the landslide susceptibility map. It means that the selection of factors is significant to landslide susceptibility mapping. This study emphasizes that the most significance causative factor is geology, soil, and roads network. However, we have identified that other factors have positive influences on the landslide susceptibility analysis.

Nevertheless, this study concluded that the most sensitive classes to landslides in the Central Alborz are: a) Quaternary deposits, b) Chalus Formation, and c) Nesen Formation. In addition to the above, we have evaluated that areas below 100-m distances to the roads with more than 10° slope are predictable to landslides. Also, this study brings attentions to decision makers because we have determined the most landslide susceptible areas in deep alluvial soils, deep valleys, debris lands, and the area near water. This study prepared improved landslide susceptible map and it is showing recent landslides on the map. Thus, decisions makers can use it for future operations. However, the information provided by this map can help citizens, planners, and engineers for loss reduction that might have caused from existing and future landslides. This study suggests that factors such as tectonic activities, seismicity, the vulnerability of buildings to be considered for evaluating the PFR model when researchers use LiDAR point cloud data and satellite images. It is because high tectonic activities and earthquakes can trigger landslides.