Global Landslide Exposure Maps for Population and Infrastructure

NASA's LHASA model provides global landslide exposure maps averaging 16 years of data from 2001 to 2016. The dataset contains eight GeoTIFF raster files totaling approximately 20.3 GB, produced by the GES_DISC organization. These maps estimate annual average exposure and standard deviation for population, roads, and critical infrastructure to landslide hazards.

Use Cases

• Model regional population exposure to landslides using the 'Population exposure (annual average)' raster.
• Analyze road network vulnerability by examining the 'Road exposure (annual average)' raster values.
• Assess critical infrastructure risk, such as hospitals and schools, via the 'Critical infrastructure exposure (annual average)' raster.
• Evaluate uncertainty in landslide hazard estimates by comparing annual average and standard deviation raster pairs.
• Map long-term landslide hazard probability globally using the 'Landslide hazard (annual average)' raster.

Strengths

• Provides 16-year temporal coverage from 2001 to 2016 for stable long-term analysis.
• Offers global spatial coverage from 72°N to 60°S latitude and 180°W to 180°E longitude.
• Contains eight distinct raster layers quantifying hazard and exposure for population, roads, and infrastructure.

Limitations

• Data is an average over 16 years, lacking daily or seasonal resolution for recent or short-term analysis.
• The model relies on satellite precipitation estimates and static susceptibility factors, which may not capture local ground conditions.
• Critical infrastructure exposure is aggregated into a single metric, obscuring differences between facility types like hospitals and schools.

Provenance

Source

NASA GES_DISC via the Landslide Hazard Assessment for Situational Awareness (LHASA) model.

Collection Method

Model combines IMERG satellite precipitation estimates with a susceptibility map derived from slope, geology, roads, faults, and forest loss.

Time Range

2001 to 2016 (16-year average).

Freshness

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Geography

Global coverage from 72°N to 60°S latitude, 180°W to 180°E longitude.