Zonificación de la susceptibilidad a deslizamiento, por medio de la metodología Mora-Vahrson, en la microcuenca del Río Macho, San José, Costa Rica

Abstract

The susceptibility to landslides in the Rio Macho microbasin was determined using a Geographic Information System, applying Mora-Varhson methodology. This methodology allows to classify the susceptibility to landslides of a region, by means of the analysis of five variables: slope, lithology, soil moisture, seismicity and record of intense rains in a period of 24 hours associated with a return period of 100 years. The program of geographic information systems ArcGIS 10® was used for the analysis of the information and the elaboration of the maps. It was determined that the area of study predominates a relief with flat slopes, the lithological factor reveals geological conditions of high susceptibility, soil moisture factors, seismic intensity and maximum rains present constant values for the entire micro basin. The results show that the most widely distributed zoning is very low and low susceptibility, consistent with the topographic characterization. 8% of the area of the micro watershed is in an area of high susceptibility. The parameter “land use” was incorporated to determine the priority areas to reforest using as criteria the susceptibility to landslides and the land use. Urban areas located in medium and high susceptibility areas were also identified.