Dangerousness evaluation with geomorphological criteria through diagnostic units in Casapalma territory (Gualhorce Valley, Spain)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a combined methodology for zoning the dangerousness with geomorphological origins on a territory. For this purpose, diagnostic units and techniques of multicriteria analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used as main tools for the analysis. Usually these types of studies are not applied with this methodology in the Mediterranean environment. Thus, in this case, this application is carried out as example in one part of the Guadalhorce Valley (Province of Malaga) with fluvial terraces and glacis landscapes. In this way, using this methodological sequence, five categories of dangerousness (1 = very low; 5 = very high) are obtained. With 1872.68 ha, 51.93% has high dangerousness with geomorphological origins. This situation is caused by: (1) concentrate runoff problems; (2) spasmodic erosive activity of the main stream and its tributaries; (3) landslides in areas with expansive clays and vertic processes.