Urban Growth and Environmental Risks - A GIS-Based Analysis of Landslide Susceptibility in Bukavu (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Sammanfattning: The city of Bukavu, located at the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the province of South Kivu, is a large and densely populated urban agglomeration that has experienced rapid growth during recent years. At the same time, Bukavu has been repeatedly struck by environmental hazards, especially by devastating landslides. The steepness of slopes in the city’s hilly and mountainous terrain is one of the most important factors contributing to landslide susceptibility, but the anthropogenic impact resulting from uncoordinated urban sprawl and land cover change additionally plays a crucial role in exacerbating the vulnerability of neighbourhoods. This thesis utilizes GIS software to provide cartographic material for landslide risk assessment in Bukavu and the city’s surroundings. It examines risk exposure related to slope inclination of densely built-up areas, the spatial development of the city and urban growth tendencies, and complements these aspects with information about land cover and the terrain.