Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) based on different boosting and hyperparameter optimization algorithms: A case of Wanzhou District, China

Boosting algorithms have been widely utilized in the development of landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) studies. However, these algorithms possess distinct computational strategies and hyperparameters, making it challenging to propose an ideal LSM model. To investigate the impact of different boosting algorithms and hyperparameter optimization algorithms on LSM, this study constructed a geospatial database comprising 12 conditioning factors, such as elevation, stratum, and annual average rainfall. The XGBoost (XGB), LightGBM (LGBM), and CatBoost (CB) algorithms were employed to construct the LSM model. Furthermore, the Bayesian optimization (BO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and Hyperband optimization (HO) algorithms were applied to optimizing the LSM model. The boosting algorithms exhibited varying performances, with CB demonstrating the highest precision, followed by LGBM, and XGB showing poorer precision. Additionally, the hyperparameter optimization algorithms displayed different performances, with HO outperforming PSO and BO showing poorer performance. The HO-CB model achieved the highest precision, boasting an accuracy of 0.764, an F1-score of 0.777, an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.837 for the training set, and an AUC value of 0.863 for the test set. The model was interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), revealing that slope, curvature, topographic wetness index (TWI), degree of relief, and elevation significantly influenced landslides in the study area. This study offers a scientific reference for LSM and disaster prevention research. This study examines the utilization of various boosting algorithms and hyperparameter optimization algorithms in Wanzhou District. It proposes the HO-CB-SHAP framework as an effective approach to accurately forecast landslide disasters and interpret LSM models. However, limitations exist concerning the generalizability of the model and the data processing, which require further exploration in subsequent studies.