Selecting optimal conditioning parameters for landslide susceptibility: an experimental research on Aqabat Al-Sulbat, Saudi Arabia

Landslides and other disastrous natural catastrophes jeopardise natural resources, assets, and people’s lives. As a result, future resource management will necessitate landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) using the best conditioning factors. In Aqabat Al-Sulbat, Asir province, Saudi Arabia, the goal of this study was to find optimal conditioning parameters dependent hybrid LSM. LSM was created using machine learning methods such as random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and artificial neural network (ANN). To build ensemble models, the LR was combined with RF and ANN models. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to validate the LSMs and determine which models were the best. Then, utilising random forest (RF), classification and regression tree (CART), and correlation feature selection, sensitivity analysis was carried out. Through sensitivity analysis, the most relevant conditioning factors were determined, and the best model was applied to the important parameters to build a highly robust LSM with fewer variables. The ROC curve was also used to evaluate the final model. The results show that two hybrid models (LR-ANN and LR-RF) were predicted the very high as 29.67–32.73 km² and high LS regions as 21.84–33.38 km², with LR predicting 22.34km² as very high and 45.15km² as high LS zones. The LR-RF appeared as best model (AUC: 0.941), followed by LR-ANN (AUC: 0.915) and LR (AUC: 0.872). Sensitivity analysis, on the other hand, allows for the exclusion of aspects, hillshade, drainage density, curvature, and TWI from LSM. The LSM was then predicted using the LR-RF model based on the remaining nine conditioning factors. With fewer variables, this model has achieved greater accuracy (AUC: 0.927). This comes very close to being the best hybrid model. As a result, it is strongly advised to choose conditioning parameters with caution, as redundant parameters would result in less resilient LSM. As a consequence, both time and resources would be saved, and precise LSM would indeed be possible.