IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p6914-d1713177.html

Landslide Prediction in Mountainous Terrain Using Weighted Overlay Analysis Method: A Case Study of Al Figrah Road, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Western Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Talal Alharbi

    (Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdelbaset S. El-Sorogy

    (Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Naji Rikan

    (Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

This study applies the Weighted Overlay Analysis (WOA) method integrated with GIS to assess landslide susceptibility along Al Figrah Road in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, western Saudi Arabia. Seven key conditioning factors, elevation, slope, aspect, drainage density, lithology, soil type, and precipitation were integrated using high-resolution remote sensing data and expert-assigned weights. The output susceptibility map categorized the region into three zones: low (93.5 million m 2 ), moderate (271.2 million m 2 ), and high risk (33.1 million m 2 ). Approximately 29% of the road corridor lies within the low-risk zone, 48% in the moderate zone, and 23% in the high-risk zone. Ten critical sites with potential landslide activity were detected along the road, correlating well with the high-risk zones on the map. Structural weaknesses in the area, such as faults, joints, foliation planes, and shear zones in both igneous and metamorphic rock units, were key contributors to slope instability. The findings offer practical guidance for infrastructure planning and geohazard mitigation in arid, mountainous environments and demonstrate the applicability of WOA in data-scarce regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Talal Alharbi & Abdelbaset S. El-Sorogy & Naji Rikan, 2025. "Landslide Prediction in Mountainous Terrain Using Weighted Overlay Analysis Method: A Case Study of Al Figrah Road, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Western Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6914-:d:1713177
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6914/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6914/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Madjid Tavana & Mehdi Soltanifar & Francisco J. Santos-Arteaga, 2023. "Analytical hierarchy process: revolution and evolution," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 326(2), pages 879-907, July.
    2. Song-Yue Yang & Che-Hao Chang & Chih-Tsung Hsu & Shiang-Jen Wu, 2022. "Variation of uncertainty of drainage density in flood hazard mapping assessment with coupled 1D–2D hydrodynamics model," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(3), pages 2297-2315, April.
    3. J. Jiménez-Perálvarez & C. Irigaray & R. El Hamdouni & J. Chacón, 2009. "Building models for automatic landslide-susceptibility analysis, mapping and validation in ArcGIS," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 50(3), pages 571-590, September.
    4. Sachchidanand Singh & Pankaj R. Dhote & Praveen K. Thakur & Arpit Chouksey & S. P. Aggarwal, 2021. "Identification of flash-floods-prone river reaches in Beas river basin using GIS-based multi-criteria technique: validation using field and satellite observations," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 105(3), pages 2431-2453, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. D. Costanzo & C. Cappadonia & C. Conoscenti & E. Rotigliano, 2012. "Exporting a Google Earth ™ aided earth-flow susceptibility model: a test in central Sicily," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 61(1), pages 103-114, March.
    2. Qi Wei & Rui Wang & Chuan-Yang Ruan, 2024. "Similarity Measures of Probabilistic Interval Preference Ordering Sets and Their Applications in Decision-Making," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-26, October.
    3. Chen Guo & Changxu Jiang & Chenxi Liu, 2025. "Dynamic Reconfiguration Method of Active Distribution Networks Based on Graph Attention Network Reinforcement Learning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-26, April.
    4. Lu, Chenxi & Zhao, Xin & Yu, Ming & Gao, Shutian & Guo, Yuchen & Wang, Yundou, 2026. "Evaluation of the effectiveness of emergency medical rescue equipment system based on cloud model," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    5. Pelin Büşra Şimşek & Akın Özdemir & Selahattin Kosunalp & Teodor Iliev, 2025. "Choosing Sustainable and Traditional Public Transportation Alternatives Using a Novel Decision-Making Framework Considering Passengers’ Travel Behaviors: A Case Study of Istanbul," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Wenhui Zeng & Jiayuan Fan & Zhichao Ren & Xiaoyu Liu & Shuang Lv & Yuqian Cao & Xiao Xu & Junyong Liu, 2023. "Economic Evaluation Method of Modern Power Transmission System Based on Improved Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Best-Worst Method-Anti-Entropy Weight," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Alaa Ahmed & Abdullah Alrajhi & Abdulaziz Alquwaizany & Ali Al Maliki & Guna Hewa, 2022. "Flood Susceptibility Mapping Using Watershed Geomorphic Data in the Onkaparinga Basin, South Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, December.
    8. Song-Yue Yang & Shaohua Marko Hsu & Ching Hsiao & Che-Hao Chang, 2023. "Digital elevation models for high-resolution base flood elevation mapping in a densely populated city," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(2), pages 2693-2716, March.
    9. Jiao Li & Gaoyuan Hu & Fei Wang, 2025. "Evaluating China’s National Park Pilots: Constructing an Indicator System for Performance Assessment," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-49, October.
    10. Mustafa El-Rawy & Wael M. Elsadek & Florimond Smedt, 2023. "Flood hazard assessment and mitigation using a multi-criteria approach in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(1), pages 215-236, January.
    11. Farzana Kiran & Muhammad Farooq Iqbal, 2026. "Fire risk assessment and post-fire evaluation of the world’s largest Chilgoza pine forests using geospatial techniques in the Koh-e-Suleiman region, Pakistan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 122(8), pages 1-32, April.
    12. Zhao, Wei & Zhao, Xinyi & Ding, Quan & Huang, Mai & Shi, Baofeng, 2026. "Evaluation system for the governance capability of national oil companies: A perspective on litigation and business punishment status," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    13. Yang, Yu & He, Ze & Song, Zouying & Fu, Xin & Wang, Jianwei, 2018. "Investigation on structural and spatial characteristics of taxi trip trajectory network in Xi’an, China," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 506(C), pages 755-766.
    14. María José Guijarro-Gil & Manuel Botejara-Antúnez & Antonio Díaz-Parralejo & Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo, 2025. "Selection of Sol-Gel Coatings by the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Life Cycle Assessment for Concentrated Solar Power Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-20, March.
    15. Atisha Sood & K. S. Vignesh & V. N. Prapanchan, 2025. "Multi-hazard vulnerability zone identification using GIS-based fuzzy AHP and MCDM techniques," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(7), pages 8501-8539, April.
    16. Idiano D'Adamo & Luciano Fratocchi & Chiara Grosso & Madjid Tavana, 2025. "An Integrated Business Strategy for the Twin Transition: Leveraging Digital Product Passports and Circular Economy Models," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7), pages 9008-9022, November.
    17. Jih-Jeng Huang & Chin-Yi Chen, 2024. "A Generalized Method for Deriving Steady-State Behavior of Consistent Fuzzy Priority for Interdependent Criteria," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-16, September.
    18. Raffi Sambyal & Vishwa B. S. Chandel & Vivek Negi, 2026. "Spatial multi-criteria evaluation approach for flood hazard and vulnerability assessment of Jammu City Region, India," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 122(6), pages 1-22, March.
    19. Irem Sahmutoglu & Alev Taskin & Ertugrul Ayyildiz, 2023. "Assembly area risk assessment methodology for post-flood evacuation by integrated neutrosophic AHP-CODAS," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(1), pages 1071-1103, March.
    20. Perdana, Arif & Arifin, Saru & Quadrianto, Novi, 2025. "Algorithmic trust and regulation: Governance, ethics, legal, and social implications blueprint for Indonesia's central banking," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6914-:d:1713177. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.