Análisis espacial de la susceptibilidad a deslizamientos con uso de geomática en la vía E20 Alóag-Santo Domingo

Abstract

Introduction: The road connecting Alóag and Santo Domingo is one of the main routes linking Ecuador’s coastal and highland regions. It experiences frequent landslides due to geomorphological, climatic, and anthropogenic factors, while existing information is limited and outdated. In this context, geomatics and remote sensing enable the creation of up-to-date maps for identifying critical areas. Objectives: To spatially analyze landslide vulnerability along the Alóag–Santo Domingo Road during the period July 2024–June 2025, using geomatics to generate technical and specialized maps that enable the delineation of critical zones. Methodology: The study was conducted using a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational design with a mixed-methods approach. Google Earth Engine was used to process and download remote sensing data (SRTM, CHIRPS, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2). The variables were normalized using fuzzy logic to perform a multi-criteria analysis and assess susceptibility, which was validated using statistical metrics such as the success rate and AUC. Results: The variables with the highest weights were slope, flow accumulation, and aspect, with an AHP consistency index of 0.04; validation metrics indicated an AUC of 0.82 and 85.71% of landslides concentrated in areas of high and exceedingly high susceptibility. Conclusions: The integration of geomatics, multi-criteria analysis, and fuzzy logic enables the creation of robust, reproducible, and updatable models for assessing vulnerability, providing a replicable methodology that strengthens preventive risk management. General Area of Study: Environment. Specific area of study: Risk and Natural Disaster Management. Type of study: Original article.