Spatial Variation of Soil Depth and Shallow Slope Failures in Sangun Mountains, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Shallow slope failure is often induced by rainfall infiltration in a soil mantle overlying a less permeable bedrock. Soil depth is an important input parameter in slope stability analysis. This paper provides the spatial variation of soil depth and the occurrence of slope failure in Sangun mountains area. The spatial pattern of soil depth was simulated by proses based model using airborne laser survey data (LiDAR data) and Geographic Information System (GIS) function. As a function for soil production, we use in the study area a numerical model developed by Dietrich et al. (1995) to predict the local spatial variation of the depth of soil. The soil depth data measured at 20 locations that represent morphological variability are used as a sample data set to test the model results. Furthermore, the soil depth variations are compared to the slope failure distribution in the whole area. Slope failure locations in the study area are identified from interpretation of aerial photographs and field surveys. Fifty-five of slope failures are considered for slope failure hazard analysis. Therefore, the slope failures occur more frequently at soil depth intervals in the ranged from 1.01 m to 1.5 m.