Over the past two decades, the scientific community has witnessed a dramatic transformation in the study of how land use and land cover change (LUCC) influences landslide susceptibility. A comprehensive analysis of 102 research articles has mapped this transformative journey, unveiling critical insights and exposing significant gaps in our understanding. The evolving landscape of LUCC-landslide research not only reflects advancements in data and modeling techniques but also highlights the pressing need for integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to mitigate one of nature’s most unpredictable disasters.
Initially, research in this domain was limited and exploratory, focusing mainly on documenting landslide occurrence in response to visible landscape changes. This early stage set the foundation for a more systematic investigation into the dynamics between shifting land use patterns and the triggering of landslides. As computational resources and remote sensing technologies improved, the field progressed into a development phase characterized by more sophisticated modeling techniques capable of incorporating diverse datasets. The explosion stage that followed marked a surge in publications, drawing on multi-modal scientometric analyses to unravel complex interactions and to enhance predictive capabilities.
The current body of literature clusters into three primary research streams, each addressing distinct yet interconnected facets of landslide science. The first cluster emphasizes susceptibility modeling, leveraging data-driven approaches to predict where landslides are most likely to occur. Advanced statistical methods and machine learning algorithms dominate these efforts, enabling researchers to handle vast arrays of geospatial data. The second stream examines the influence of climate change on landslide occurrence, investigating how shifting precipitation patterns, temperature variations, and extreme weather events exacerbate slope instability. The third area of focus delves into the micro-scale mechanisms that trigger small landslides, often emphasizing soil properties, root reinforcement, and hydrological changes at the slope level.
Despite the proliferation of sophisticated models, the predominant reliance on data-driven techniques has brought forth challenges related to interpretability and physical realism. Many studies prioritize optimizing prediction accuracy over understanding the mechanistic basis of LUCC-induced landslide susceptibility. This emphasis on computational performance sometimes obscures the causal pathways linking land transformations—such as deforestation and urban expansion—to increased landslide risks. Integrating physical processes into predictive models emerges as a key frontier for future research, promising to illuminate the underlying interactions between human activities and geomorphological responses.
Among the myriad anthropogenic drivers, deforestation and urban growth stand out as the most significant contributors to heightened landslide susceptibility. The removal of vegetation cover eliminates critical root networks that stabilize soils, while urban expansion alters natural drainage patterns, load distributions, and land surface conditions. However, the impact of changes in cultivated land, shrubland, and grassland is more nuanced and context-dependent. These land use types can both mitigate and exacerbate landslide risks, depending on factors such as soil type, slope gradient, regional climate, and land management practices, underscoring the need for localized studies tailored to specific environmental conditions.
A glaring limitation in the extant research base is the narrow focus on model comparison and optimization, often at the expense of deeper theoretical exploration. Discussions around the dynamic characteristics of the LUCC-landslide relationship remain superficial, limiting our ability to forge comprehensive, causally informed frameworks. This gap restricts the usefulness of models in informing land use policy and risk management decisions, impeding progress toward sustainable landscapes that balance human development and natural hazard mitigation.
Furthermore, there is an evident spatial bias in the coverage of landslide risk areas within the literature. Many high-risk regions experiencing rapid land use changes or frequent landslide events are underrepresented. This uneven geographic focus hampers global understanding and weakens disaster preparedness in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Expanding studies into these neglected zones is vital, requiring enhanced data collection efforts and collaborations across disciplines and borders.
The temporal dimension of LUCC effects on landslides remains another underexplored territory. Existing research often treats land cover changes and landslide occurrences as static or immediate phenomena, neglecting delayed or cumulative impacts that unfold over years or decades. Understanding these time-lag effects is essential for developing predictive models that can anticipate future hazards rather than merely reacting to past changes. Longitudinal studies incorporating historical datasets and time-series analyses are critical for uncovering these temporal dynamics.
Interdisciplinary integration also suffers from a lack of attention to the interactions between different land use types and their combined influence on landslide processes. Few studies systematically analyze how mosaics of agricultural fields, forests, urban zones, and natural habitats interact with climatic and geological factors to influence slope stability. This complexity calls for holistic frameworks that can accommodate the coupled natural-human systems driving landslide susceptibility.
In response to these challenges, researchers have put forward a sustainable land management framework that emphasizes the interconnectedness of disaster effects, land use patterns, and socioeconomic conditions. This comprehensive approach aims to harmonize land use planning with risk governance, providing policymakers with actionable strategies to mitigate landslide risks while promoting ecosystem conservation and social security. By integrating disaster science with socio-economic planning, this framework holds promise for fostering resilience in landscapes increasingly threatened by both anthropogenic and natural forces.
The proposed framework encourages the adoption of land use policies grounded in scientific evidence, tailored to the unique characteristics of regions, and responsive to ongoing environmental changes. It advocates for adaptive governance models that incorporate continuous monitoring, public participation, and cross-sector collaboration to dynamically manage landslide vulnerabilities in the face of climatic variability and land development pressures.
Ultimately, the trajectory of LUCC-landslide research over the last 20 years illuminates the critical need for an interdisciplinary, data-informed, and physically grounded science. The fusion of hazard mapping techniques with risk governance paradigms represents a paradigm shift, moving beyond hazard identification towards proactive, strategic risk management. This evolution reflects broader trends in environmental science where complex socio-ecological systems demand integrated approaches to understanding and mitigating natural disasters.
Looking forward, future studies will need to prioritize the incorporation of robust physical models into data-driven frameworks, closing the gap between prediction and explanation. Expanding the spatial and temporal scope of research will enhance the global applicability of findings and improve risk assessments in rapidly evolving landscapes. More importantly, fostering dialogue across disciplines—ranging from geomorphology and climatology to sociology and urban planning—will strengthen the foundations of sustainable land management strategies designed to minimize landslide hazards.
This comprehensive review serves not only as a synthesis of two decades of scientific progress but also as a call to action. Addressing the highlighted limitations and embracing interdisciplinary, multi-modal approaches can propel the field toward transformative breakthroughs. As landslides continue to threaten lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems worldwide, the integration of land use science with disaster risk governance becomes not just an academic pursuit but an urgent societal imperative.
The insights gleaned from this vast body of research underscore the complexity inherent in managing natural hazards amidst accelerating landscape transformations. They reveal that successful mitigation depends on nuanced, context-sensitive understandings of how human activities modulate geomorphic processes. By advancing this frontier, science can better inform policies that protect communities, safeguard ecosystems, and guide sustainable development in an era of unprecedented environmental change.
In sum, the evolution from hazard mapping to governance highlights an interdisciplinary odyssey marked by technological advances, deeper ecological knowledge, and escalating socio-political challenges. The journey captured through scientometric analysis is a testament to scientific innovation and a beacon for future research directions capable of transforming how societies coexist with landslide risks.
Subject of Research:
Impacts of land use/cover change (LUCC) on landslide susceptibility and the evolution of related research over 20 years based on multi-modal scientometrics.
Article Title:
From hazard mapping to risk governance: 20-year trajectory of land use/cover change impacts on landslide susceptibility via multi-modal scientometrics.
Article References:
Zhu, H., Zhu, X., Xu, Q. et al. From hazard mapping to risk governance: 20-year trajectory of land use/cover change impacts on landslide susceptibility via multi-modal scientometrics. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1609 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05831-7
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