An approach to find the potential landslide source based on intersection of lineament using SRTM DEM

Abstract

Landslides are among the geo-disasters that often occur in tropical climates and result in deaths and significant losses. Landslide areas are often associated with poor slope structure conditions along with high rainfall intensity resulting in failures. Recognizing how this disaster occurs annually, it is crucial to identify the source of landslides in the tropical region on a large scale. This study aims to look at the relationship between the density of lineaments and the intersection of lineament to landslides events that occur in Cameron Highland. Lineament mapping is carried out by using shaded relief derived from SRTM DEM images. Shaded relief images are helpful to identify lineaments in different distinct relief and topography and can enhance lineaments at different orientations by simulating topographic illumination under varied light directions. Combining multidirectional shaded relief images into a final image enhances lineaments within the eight sun azimuth directions. Lineament map is converted to lineament density map lineament using fishnet density where the density lineament classification is based on a 1 km X 1 km. The density map is further classified into three classes: low (0 - 2429) m, medium (2430 - 4153) m, and high (4154 - 7342) m. The correlation between lineament intersection and lineament density map showed that most of the landslide potential source is at the western side where most of the major town is located and prone to landslides events based on the landslides historical record.