Ensemble learning framework for landslide susceptibility mapping

Author(s)
Taorui Zeng, Liyang Wu, Dario Peduto, Thomas Glade, Yuichi S. Hayakawa, Kunlong Yin
Abstract

The application of ensemble learning models has been continuously improved in recent landslide susceptibility research, but most studies have no unified ensemble framework. Moreover, few papers have discussed the applicability of the ensemble learning model in landslide susceptibility mapping at the township level. This study aims at defining a robust ensemble framework that can become the benchmark method for future research dealing with the comparison of different ensemble models. For this purpose, the present work focuses on three different basic classifiers: decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), and multi-layer perceptron neural network model (MLPNN) and two homogeneous ensemble models such as random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The hierarchical construction of deep ensemble relied on two leading ensemble technologies (i.e., homogeneous/heterogeneous model ensemble and bagging, boosting, stacking ensemble strategy) to provide a more accurate and effective spatial probability of landslide occurrence. The selected study area is Dazhou town, located in the Jurassic red-strata area in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China, which is a strategic economic area currently characterized by widespread landslide risk. Based on a long-term field investigation, the inventory counting thirty-three slow-moving landslide polygons was drawn. The results show that the ensemble models do not necessarily perform better; for instance, the Bagging based DT-SVM-MLPNN-XGBoost model performed worse than the single XGBoost model. Amongst the eleven tested models, the Stacking based RF-XGBoost model, which is a homogeneous model based on bagging, boosting, and stacking ensemble, showed the highest capability of predicting the landslide-affected areas. Besides, the factor behaviors of DT, SVM, MLPNN, RF and XGBoost models reflected the characteristics of slow-moving landslides in the Three Gorges reservoir area, wherein unfavorable lithological conditions and intense human engineering activities (i.e., reservoir water level fluctuation, residential area construction, and farmland development) are proven to be the key triggers. The presented approach could be used for landslide spatial occurrence prediction in similar regions and other fields.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geography and Regional Research
External organisation(s)
China University of Geosciences, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Hokkaido University, University of Vienna
Journal
Geoscience Frontiers
Volume
14
ISSN
1674-9871
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2023.101645
Publication date
11-2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105101 General geology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/6096772f-40e4-4e8c-89fe-2534d601ef74