DEVELOPING A COMPUTER -BASED LANDSLIDE HAZARD MAP FOR

IRISAN BAGUIO CITY

Physics Faculty, School of Engineering and Architecture
Saint Louis University, Baguio City
An early warning system (EWS) is a fundamental aspect of disaster
management.
Campolet (2014) developed a landslide EWS as an input to
enhancing the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tublay, Tuba) disaster
risk reduction management efforts.
The study developed a GIS-based landslide
hazard map specific to rain-induced landslides in the BLISTT area. It compared the
existing geo-hazard maps of MGB CAR with the GIS-generated maps and results
showed that the latter provided a more refined image than that of the MGB version.
Further, the GIS map can have the following characteristics: (a) it can be updated
and accessed online; (b) it contains an attribute table to generate other pertinent
landslide information such as area; and (c) locational coordinates as well as actual
pictures to visualize its impact. The GIS database, as an early warning system, can
identify landslide hotspot areas as triggered by forecasted rainfall amounts of strong
typhoons.
The system is now being rolled-out at community level and Irisan Barangay
was chosen from the 129 barangays of Baguio City because it has the highest
incidence of landslides. It averages to six (6) landslide incidences per year as
recorded from 2006 to 2012 (Campolet, 2014). From the interview conducted by
the Physics Faculty to assess the needs of the barangays disaster management on
landslides, it was determined that: (a) the barangay has a landslide map but the
process of developing such is not systematic; (b) the map-makers do not have
formal training on hazard mapping; (c) the BDRRMC (Barangay Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council) is interested in the proposed extension
program; (c) the barangay has five (5) computer units and some of the staff
members are knowledgeable on computers; and (d) lectures and hands-on training
on GIS are deemed acceptable and are amenable to be trained in SLU. It was further
found out that IRISAN BDRRMC members are actively collecting data on landslides
and have a landslide hazard map available, their methods need to be more specific
and systematic. Also, Irisan BDRRMC representatives are looking forward for
assistance in generating data and printing GIS BASED maps so they can learn and
eventually simulate a landslide mapping system for their barangay.
The objective of the extension program is to share basic knowledge and skills
like: (a) using Microsoft Excel and GPS receivers; (b) generate a hazard map for
Barangay Irisan through GIS; (c) identify hotspot areas for landslides; (d)
disseminate the information using an online platform; and most of all, (e) simulate
the system for use as an early warning system. The extension program began with
the training on Microsoft Excel last October 17, 2015. In this stage, 10 BDRRMC
members were able to appreciate the capabilities of spreadsheets in organizing
landslide data like how to create a database, sort data, classify information and
save the database. The next step is a second training for the BDRRMC members
aimed at teaching them how to upgrade from manual data logging to computerized
database logging in preparation to the next phase which will deal with data mining
and trainings on GIS, GPS, and online access .

Keywords: Early Warning System (EWS), Rain-induced Landslides, Geographic

Information System, Global Positioning System

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