Estimation of Risk Exposure Index for Road Network in Landslide-Prone Areas: Fid-Bau Portal

Estimation of Risk Exposure Index for Road Network in Landslide-Prone Areas

Salini, P. N. / Rahul, P. / Salini, U. / Mathew, Samson

Although there is significant information available on the direct risks associated with landslides and their hazards, there is less information reported on how landslides affect the road system and other indirect risks involved. Kerala, a state in southern India, has experienced a sizable number of landslides recently. According to the National Center for Earth Science Studies reports, Landslides frequently occur in Kerala's 1,848 km² of the Western Ghats, which extend along a steep slope. Several landslides occur in the mountain areas during the monsoon season, causing road collapse, silting of river beds, and severe damage to both public and private property. Due to its high population density (859 people per square kilometer), Kerala is one of the states in India that is most susceptible to disaster-related losses and damages. Although landslides cause fatalities, injuries, and property damage, they also cause a number of other indirect losses. When different road links and nodes are closed or blocked due to landslides, connectivity is lost, which exacerbates the losses and problems brought on by the landslides. This study aims to develop an indicator value that will express the traffic volume exposure during landslides while taking into account the road section's vulnerability and risk. A database of attribute information on spatial and accessibility details, risk and vulnerability analysis, and finally the development of an index factor that will express the traffic exposure during landslide vulnerabilities in Munnar are all done as part of this study's GIS mapping of disaster-affected and prone areas, road routes, and shelter locations. The findings aid in comprehending the region's susceptibility to a natural disaster. Prioritization plans for effective and efficient road asset management will be prepared with the aid of the risk and risk exposure index assessment. Other landslide-prone or affected regions can estimate the risk index using the logical methodology presented in this paper. The decision makers and execution agencies will be better able to prioritize the projects and mitigation strategies as a result. In this study GIS mapping of disaster affected and prone areas, road routes and shelter locations is done along with an attribute database on spatial and accessibility details, risk and vulnerability analysis is done and finally developed an index factor which will express the traffic exposure during landslide vulnerabilities in Munnar. The results help to understand the vulnerability of the area during a natural calamity. The risk and risk exposure index assessment will help in preparing a prioritization plan for effective and efficient road asset management. The rational approach presented in this paper can also be replicated for the estimation of risk index in other landslide-prone or affected regions. This will further assist the executive agencies and decision makers in prioritizing the projects and mitigation measures.