Landslide Inventory Map of Samtse Dzongkhag

ISO 19115-3 Metadata

Metadata Information

Metadata identifier:
Identifier code: 556C6116-02FF-495F-9002-2B819E38ECFC
Default locale:
Language code: eng
Country code: BT
Character encoding: utf8
Metadata contact:
Role: pointOfContact
Responsible party:
Organization:
Name: DGM, MoENR
Indvidual:
Individual:
Name: Kinzang Duba
Position name: Dy. Chief Engineer
Metadata date information:
Date type: revision
Date: 2025-07-29T00:00:00
Metadata standard:
Title: ISO 19115-3 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 1: Fundamentals
Edition: 2014
Metadata scope:
Resource scope: dataset
Scope name: dataset
Metadata maintenance:
Update frequency: asNeeded
Maintenance contact:
Role: resourceProvider
Responsible party:
Organization:
Name: DGM, MoENR
Contact information:
Address:
e-mail address: sonamtshomo@moenr.gov.bt
Indvidual:
Individual:
Name: Sonam Tshomo
Position name: Sr. Geologist

Data Identification Information

Resource citation:
Title: Landslide Inventory Map of Samtse Dzongkhag
Citation date:
Date type: creation
Date: 2025-07-29T00:00:00
Abstract: Samtse Dzongkhag, located in Bhutan’s southern foothills, is among the most landslide-prone regions in the country due to its fragile geology, intense monsoon rainfall, and increasing anthropogenic activities. Geologically, the area lies within the tectonically active Siwalik and Lesser Himalayan zones and is traversed by major fault systems, including the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) and Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), as well as numerous local faults and folds. These structural features have fractured and deformed the rock mass, which is primarily composed of highly to completely weathered phyllite, quartzite, sandstone, and siltstone, all of which are weak and highly susceptible to failure when saturated.With annual rainfall often around 4,000 mm, coupled with widespread slope disturbances from road construction, riverbank erosion, deforestation, and settlement expansion, landslides have become a recurring hazard. Field validation confirmed that 9 out of 15 gewogs, particularly Samtse and Phuentshopelri, are severely impacted. A total of 59 landslides were documented, most of which remain active and are concentrated along thrust zones. Among these, 16 landslides (27%) were identified as critical due to their high vulnerability to settlements and key infrastructure.The study focused on landslides with direct or observable impacts on settlements and infrastructure. Remote or less accessible areas were excluded due to time and logistical constraints but should be included in future assessments, considering the evolving and uncertain nature of landslide hazards.
Purpose: Landslide inventory mapping is a critical process in geohazard management that involves systematically documenting the location, type, size, and timing of past landslides. This information provides essential input for hazard assessments, land-use planning, and disaster preparedness by helping identify vulnerable zones and informing mitigation strategies. It also supports scientific research, model validation, and the development of predictive tools—including machine learning applications—to understand landslide dynamics. Additionally, inventory data contributes to environmental analyses, aiding landscape evolution studies and resource conservation efforts
Credits: Geohazards Division
Point of contact:
Role: resourceProvider
Responsible party:
Organization:
Name: DGM, MoENR
Contact information:
Address:
e-mail address: sonamtshomo@moenr.gov.bt
Indvidual:
Individual:
Name: Sonam Tshomo
Position name: Sr. Geologist
Point of contact:
Role: pointOfContact
Responsible party:
Organization:
Name: DGM, MoENR
Indvidual:
Individual:
Name: Kinzang Duba
Position name: Dy. Chief Engineer
Spatial representation type: vector
Themes or categories of the resource: environment, geoscientificInformation, location
Resource extent:
Geographic element:
Bounding rectangle:
Extent contains the resource: true
West longitude: 88.88
East longitude: 89.32
North latitude: 27.08
South latitude: 26.8
Resource maintenance:
Update frequency: asNeeded
Maintenance contact:
Role: resourceProvider
Responsible party:
Organization:
Name: DGM, MoENR
Contact information:
Address:
e-mail address: sonamtshomo@moenr.gov.bt
Indvidual:
Individual:
Name: Sonam Tshomo
Position name: Sr. Geologist
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords: Downloadable Data

Thesaurus:
Citation reference: 723f6998-058e-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords: Geohazards, open

Descriptive keywords:
Keywords: Geohazards, open

Default locale:
Language code: eng
Country code: BT
Character encoding: utf8
Environment description: Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.8.0.12689

Spatial Representation Information

Vector Data

Level of topology for this dataset: geometryOnly
Geometric objects:
Object type: point

Reference System Information

Reference system identifier:
Identifier code: 5266
Codespace: EPSG
Version: 7.6(10.1.0)

Resource Lineage

Lineage scope:
Scope level: dataset
Source:
Source description: Field survey using handheld GPS and remote sensing technique (Google Earth)

Distribution Information

Distribution format:
Format specification citation:
Title: shapefile
Edition: .shp
Digital transfer options: