Global Landslide Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-LS) v1.0

Raster File

GMSR_Landslide_Susceptibility_0_100.tif

Public Dataset URL

https://secure.engineeringdirector.com/public/map/GMSR_Landslide_Susceptibility_0_100

Product Overview

The Global Landslide Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-LS) is a global geospatial dataset representing relative susceptibility to landslide occurrence resulting from terrain, climate, moisture, drainage, and lithologic conditions.

Landslides are among the most widespread geohazards worldwide and can occur in a variety of geomorphic environments where slope instability is promoted by steep terrain, adverse geological conditions, elevated soil moisture, and climatic forcing.

The dataset identifies landscapes exhibiting environmental and geological conditions favorable for slope failure and provides a continuous susceptibility score ranging from 0–100.

The product serves as a major component within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Applications include:

• Infrastructure planning
• Transportation corridor assessment
• Pipeline routing
• Utility planning
• Geohazard screening
• Emergency management
• Environmental assessment
• Land-use planning
• Asset management
• Regional resilience planning

Product Family

The Global Landslide Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-LS) is one of five component products comprising the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Component products include:

• Landslide Susceptibility
• Soil Creep Potential
• Shrink–Swell Potential
• Subsidence Susceptibility
• Seismic Amplification

These component rasters may be used independently or within the integrated GMSR framework.

Product Status

Dataset Information

Raster Statistics

Interpretation

The observed maximum value of 82.05 indicates that no location globally achieved the theoretical maximum susceptibility score.

The standardized 0–100 display range is retained to ensure consistency across all GMSR component products and the composite GMSR framework.

Score Interpretation

Scores represent relative susceptibility to landslide occurrence and should not be interpreted as direct probability of failure or predicted landslide frequency.

Visualization Standard

The official GMSR product family visualization standard is used.

The GMSR product family utilizes a standardized 0–100 visualization scale to ensure consistent interpretation across all component and composite products.

Individual raster datasets may not occupy the full 0–100 range; however, the visualization standard remains fixed to support cross-product comparison and portfolio-level analysis.

Display legends are standardized across the GMSR product family and may extend beyond the observed minimum and maximum raster values. Actual raster statistics are reported within the Dataset Information and Raster Statistics sections.

Methodology Summary

The Global Landslide Susceptibility Raster evaluates susceptibility to slope failure using globally consistent datasets representing terrain, climate, moisture, drainage, and lithologic controls on instability.

The model integrates seven primary predictor variables:

• Slope Gradient
• Local Relief
• Mean Annual Precipitation
• Climate Wetness Index
• Root Zone Soil Moisture
• Drainage Characteristics
• Lithologic Susceptibility

The weighted susceptibility framework includes:

• Slope Gradient (30%)
• Local Relief (20%)
• Mean Annual Precipitation (15%)
• Climate Wetness Index (15%)
• Root Zone Soil Moisture (10%)
• Drainage Index (5%)
• Lithologic Susceptibility (5%)

All inputs are normalized to a common 0–100 susceptibility framework and combined to generate a globally standardized landslide susceptibility index.

The resulting raster provides relative susceptibility rather than direct prediction of landslide occurrence.

Input Variables

Slope Gradient

Derived from GEBCO global elevation data.

Steeper slopes receive higher susceptibility scores because gravitational driving forces increase with slope angle.

Model Weight: 30%

Local Relief

Derived from GEBCO elevation data.

Areas exhibiting large elevation differences over short distances generally receive higher susceptibility values.

Model Weight: 20%

Mean Annual Precipitation

Derived from global precipitation datasets.

Higher precipitation promotes soil saturation and slope instability.

Model Weight: 15%

Climate Wetness Index

Represents long-term climatic moisture availability.

Areas exhibiting persistently wet conditions generally receive higher susceptibility scores.

Model Weight: 15%

Root Zone Soil Moisture

Derived from NASA FLDAS soil moisture products.

Higher soil moisture conditions are associated with increased landslide susceptibility.

Model Weight: 10%

Drainage Index

Represents landscape drainage characteristics influencing water accumulation and slope saturation.

Model Weight: 5%

Lithologic Susceptibility

Derived from the Global Lithological Map (GLiM).

Lithologies historically associated with slope instability receive elevated susceptibility values.

Model Weight: 5%

Relationship to GMSR

The Landslide Susceptibility Raster serves as the primary component of the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR).

Product Lineage

This dataset is a component product within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework and contributes 30% of the final composite GMSR score.

GMSR Weighting

Validation

Validation Approach

Validation was performed through comparison with documented landslide occurrence data and independent global landslide inventories.

Modeled susceptibility patterns were compared against terrain known to experience frequent landslide activity and evaluated using statistical validation techniques.

Validation Summary

The raster demonstrates strong agreement with globally recognized landslide-prone environments including:

• Western North America
• Central America
• Andes Mountains
• European Alps
• Mediterranean Mountain Regions
• Himalayan Arc
• Western China
• Japan
• Indonesia
• New Zealand

Independent validation against NASA Global Landslide Catalog datasets produced strong predictive performance at global scales.

Validation was conducted at continental and global scales and is intended to support screening-level geospatial analysis rather than site-specific geotechnical investigations.

Spatial Distribution Characteristics

The Global Landslide Susceptibility Raster exhibits concentrated patterns associated with mountainous terrain and regions experiencing persistent climatic forcing.

Elevated susceptibility values are concentrated within:

• Mountain belts
• Volcanic regions
• Tectonically active landscapes
• Areas of high precipitation
• Regions exhibiting persistent soil moisture

Low susceptibility values are typically associated with low-relief terrain, arid landscapes, and geologically stable environments.

Source Datasets

• GEBCO Global Bathymetry and Elevation

• Global Lithological Map (GLiM)

• NASA FLDAS Root Zone Soil Moisture

• Climate Wetness Index Framework

• Global Mean Annual Precipitation Dataset

• Global Drainage Index Framework

Related Products

Primary GMSR Products

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility (0–100)

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility Class 1–7

GMSR Component Products

• Landslide Susceptibility

• Soil Creep Potential

• Shrink–Swell Potential

• Subsidence Susceptibility

• Seismic Amplification

Limitations

• Intended for screening and planning purposes.
• Not a substitute for site-specific geotechnical investigation.
• Does not predict individual landslide events.
• Does not estimate landslide volume or runout distance.
• Does not account for local engineering controls.
• Does not incorporate site-specific geologic investigations.
• Does not represent real-time conditions.
• Does not constitute an engineering design product.

Revision History

Source Citations

GEBCO

GEBCO Compilation Group.

The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

GLiM

Hartmann, J., & Moosdorf, N. (2012).

The new global lithological map database GLiM: A representation of rock properties at the Earth surface.

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.

NASA FLDAS

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS).

Attribution

Joseph Mazzella

Nicole Mazzella

AtmosphericIQ LLC

Engineering Director, Inc.

Dataset Citation

Mazzella, J., Mazzella, N. (2026).

Global Landslide Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-LS) v1.0.

AtmosphericIQ LLC / Engineering Director, Inc.

Version Information