Landslide Inventory of Zhemgang Dzongkhag

ISO 19115-3 Metadata

Metadata Information

Metadata identifier:
Identifier code: 365B3735-3A53-4A83-BF6D-82FC027870C9
Default locale:
Language code: eng
Character encoding: utf8
Metadata contact:
Role: pointOfContact
Responsible party:
Organization:
Name: DGM, MoENR
Contact information:
Address:
e-mail address: kduba@moenr.gov.bt
Indvidual:
Individual:
Name: Kinzang Duba
Position name: Dy. Chief Engineer
Metadata date information:
Date type: revision
Date: 2025-07-30T00:00:00
Metadata standard:
Title: ISO 19115-3 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 1: Fundamentals
Edition: 2014
Metadata scope:
Resource scope: dataset
Metadata maintenance:
Update frequency: asNeeded

Data Identification Information

Resource citation:
Title: Landslide Inventory of Zhemgang Dzongkhag
Citation date:
Date type: creation
Date: 2025-07-30T00:00:00
Abstract: Zhemgang Dzongkhag, located in central Bhutan, exhibits localized but significant landslide activity, driven by steep terrain, fragile lithology, and human-induced disturbances. Out of eight gewogs, landslide data were collected from three gewogs, with a notable 77% of the events concentrated in Singkhar Gewog, highlighting a high-risk zone in the district.The lithology around the recorded landslides includes gneiss, granite, schist, phyllite, and quartzite, which under the deformed and fractured conditions are particularly vulnerable to failure when saturated by rainfall. These geological weaknesses are compounded by slope modifications from developmental activities.A total of 13 landslides were recorded. Among them, 54% are active, 23% suspended, and 23% dormant, reflecting varying levels of instability. The main triggering factors identified were road undercutting and climatic influences, especially intense rainfall. Two landslides located below Singkhar Primary School and in Laylang under Ngangla Gewog were classified as critical due to their proximity to settlements, school infrastructure, and roads used by commuters.Data were collected from only three gewogs due to limited time and resources. Remote or less accessible areas were not surveyed, and their landslide risk remains undocumented. These areas should be included in future assessments to support comprehensive hazard mapping and mitigation planning.
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
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: 90.62
East longitude: 90.98
North latitude: 27.25
South latitude: 26.89
Resource maintenance:
Update frequency: asNeeded
Descriptive keywords:
Keywords: Geohazards, open

Descriptive keywords:
Keywords: Geohazards, open

Default locale:
Language code: eng
Character encoding: utf8

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