Application of GIS-Based Back Propagation Artificial Neural Networks and Logistic Regression for shallow Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in South China-Take Meijiang River Basin as an Example

In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) model and logistic regression were applied to analyze susceptibility and identify the main controlling factors of landslide in Meijiang River Basin of Southern China.

Methods: Eleven variables such as altitude, slope angle, slope aspect, topographic relief, distance to fault, rock-type, soil-type, land-use type, NDVI, maximum rainfall intensity, distance to river were employed as landslide conditioning factors in landslide susceptibility mapping.

Both landsliding and non-landsliding samples were needed as training data for ANN model. 384 landslides and 380 non-landsliding points with no recorded landslides according to field investigation and survey data were chosen as sample data of ANN model. Moreover, the ROC curve was applied to calculate the prediction accuracy.

The validation results showed that prediction accuracy rate of 82.6% exists between the susceptibility map and the location of the initial 384 landsliding samples. However, logistic regression analysis showed that the average correct classification percentage was 75.4%. The prediction results of ANN model in high sensitive zone is more accurate than the logistic regression model.

Therefore, the ANN model is valid when assessing the susceptibility. The main controlling factors were identified from the eleven factors by ANN model. The slope, rock and land use type appeared to be the main controlling factors in landslide formation process in Southern China.