Elaboración de un mapa de susceptibilidad al movimiento de masas en el tramo final de la conducción Chanlud – Tuñi

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of a landslide susceptibility map for the initial segment of the Chanlud-Tuñi conduit, located in the upper basin of the Machángara River, Azuay Province, Ecuador. The study employs a modified Mora-Vahrson methodology, integrating factors such as terrain slope, geology, vegetation cover, soil moisture, precipitation, and seismicity, which allows for the identification and classification of areas susceptible to mass movements. The main objective is to identify areas with a higher likelihood of landslides and to map them, in order to provide relevant information for risk planning and mitigation. The analysis revealed that areas with high and very high susceptibility to landslides are primarily located near the road leading to the Chanlud dam, characterized by steep slopes and the presence of colluvial materials, which have limited drainage capacity, increasing their vulnerability to saturation and, consequently, to landslides. In addition to the susceptibility map, the work presents a landslide inventory for the critical areas identified in the zone, which was used to validate the methodology employed and to describe the historical evolution of the landslides present in the study area through the review of satellite images and field surveys. The methodology has proven effective in identifying areas of greatest risk. However, to increase the accuracy of the results, it is recommended to intensify data collection, with special attention to aspects such as soil moisture.