Survey and monitoring of landslide displacements by means of L-band satellite SAR interferometry

This paper illustrates the capabilities of L-band satellite SAR interferometry for the investigation of landslide displacements. SAR data acquired by the L-band JERS satellite over the Italian and Swiss Alps have been analyzed together with C-band ERS-1/2 SAR data and in situ information. The use of L-band SAR data with a wavelength larger than the usual C-band, generally considered for ground motion measurements, reduces some of the limitations of differential SAR interferometry, in particular, signal decorrelation induced by vegetation cover and rapid displacements. The sites of the Alta Val Badia region in South Tyrol (Italy), Ruinon in Lombardia (Italy), Saas Grund in Valais (Switzerland) and Campo Vallemaggia in Ticino (Switzerland), representing a comprehensive set of different mass wasting phenomena in various environments, are considered. The landslides in the Alta Val Badia region are good examples for presenting the improved performance of L-band in comparison to C-band for vegetated areas, in particular concerning open forest. The landslides of Ruinon, Saas Grund, and Campo Vallemaggia demonstrate the strength of L-band in observing moderately fast displacements in comparison to C-band. This work, performed with historical SAR data from a satellite which operated until 1998, demonstrates the capabilities of future planned L-band SAR missions, like ALOS and TerraSAR-L, for landslide studies.     

Investigating a reservoir bank slope displacement history with multi-frequency satellite SAR data

Slope instability arisen along with dam construction is a common problem of great concern in reservoir areas. Thus, displacement monitoring of active slopes is of great importance for the safety of dam operation. The unstable Guobu slope is located only about 1.5 km away from Laxiwa hydropower station in upstream Yellow River. In this study, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) datasets acquired by C-band Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT) Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR), L-band Advanced Land Observing Satellite 2 (ALOS-2) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar 2 (PALSAR-2), and X-band TerraSAR-X covering different evolution stages of Guobu slope were collected to investigate the displacement history so as to facilitate understanding of its deformation and failure mechanisms. The displacements occurred during the past decade were quantitatively identified for the first time by SAR pixel offset tracking analyses. The results show that before the reservoir impoundment, the maximum accumulative displacements on the slope were more than 7 m from 2003 to 2008, while the post-impoundment displacements also exceeded 7 m in just 1 year from September 2009 to September 2010. Furthermore, this slope is still in active deformation up to now. Nevertheless, the displacement rates seem decreased recently according to the interferometric results of TerraSAR-X data pairs from September 2015 to March 2016.     

Use of satellite remote sensing data in the mapping of global landslide susceptibility

Satellite remote sensing data has significant potential use in analysis of natural hazards such as landslides. Relying on the recent advances in satellite remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques, this paper aims to map landslide susceptibility over most of the globe using a GIS-based weighted linear combination method. First, six relevant landslide-controlling factors are derived from geospatial remote sensing data and coded into a GIS system. Next, continuous susceptibility values from low to high are assigned to each of the six factors. Second, a continuous scale of a global landslide susceptibility index is derived using GIS weighted linear combination based on each factor’s relative significance to the process of landslide occurrence (e.g., slope is the most important factor, soil types and soil texture are also primary-level parameters, while elevation, land cover types, and drainage density are secondary in importance). Finally, the continuous index map is further classified into six susceptibility categories. Results show the hot spots of landslide-prone regions include the Pacific Rim, the Himalayas and South Asia, Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Alps, and parts of the Middle East and Africa. India, China, Nepal, Japan, the USA, and Peru are shown to have landslide-prone areas. This first-cut global landslide susceptibility map forms a starting point to provide a global view of landslide risks and may be used in conjunction with satellite-based precipitation information to potentially detect areas with significant landslide potential due to heavy rainfall.     

Using multiresolution and multitemporal satellite data for post-disaster landslide inventory in the Republic of Serbia

This paper focuses on a specific event-based landslide inventory compiled after the May 2014 heavy rainfall episode in Serbia as a part of the post-disaster recovery actions. The inventory was completed for a total of 23 affected municipalities, and the municipality of Krupanj was selected as the location for a more detailed study. Three sources of data collection and analysis were used: a visual analysis of the post-event very high and high (VHR-HR) resolution images (Pléiades, WorldView-2 and SPOT 6), semi-automatic landslide recognition in pre- and post-event coarse resolution images (Landsat 8) and a landslide mapping field campaign. The results suggest that the visual and semi-automated analyses significantly contributed to the quality of the final inventory, including the associated planning strategies for conducting future field campaigns (as a final stage of the inventorying process), all the more so because the field-based and image-based inventories were focused on different types of landslides. In the most affected municipalities that had very high resolution satellite image coverage (19.52% of the whole study area), the density of the recognized landslides was approximately three times higher than that in those municipalities without satellite image coverage (where only field data were available). The total number of field-mapped landslides for the 23 municipalities was 1785, while image-based inventories, which were available only for the municipalities with satellite image coverage (77.43% of the study area), showed 1298 landslide records. The semi-automated landslide inventory in the test area (Krupanj municipality), which was based on coarse resolution multitemporal images (Landsat 8), counted 490 landslide instances and was in agreement with the visual analysis of the higher resolution images, with an overlap of approximately 40%. These results justify the use of preliminary inventorying via satellite image analysis and suggest a considerable potential use for preliminary visual and semi-automated landslide inventorying as an important supplement to field mapping.     

Landslide detection based on height and amplitude differences using pre- and post-event airborne X-band SAR data

Natural Hazards - The recognition of landslides and making their inventory map are considered to be urgent tasks not only for damage estimation but also for planning rescue and restoration...     

Estimation and analysis of the surface velocity field of mountain glaciers in Muztag Ata using satellite SAR data

Muztag Ata is a mountain known as the “Father of glaciers” in the west of China. However, its glacier flow pattern has never been studied. In this paper, the velocity of mountain glaciers on Muztag Ata is mapped by two methods (InSAR and offset-tacking) using SAR data. This map provides a detailed view of the features of glacier motion on Muztag Ata. A special effort was also made to assess the accuracy of the glacier velocity estimates. To ensure the accuracy of the derived results, the validation of the results was conducted over two glaciers (Saliymek Glacier and Kuksay Glacier). The two methods yielded similar results that agree well with each other. The patterns of glacier velocity on Muztag Ata suggest that mountain topography, westerly winds and the monsoon have a strong influence. Our results show that motion of glaciers in the southern and western regions of Muztag Ata is faster than that in the northern and eastern regions. Eleven glaciers were identified, along which glacier velocities exhibited distinctive behavior in terms of the spatial variability of the glacier motion. The occurrence of the local flow maxima and minima at consistent locations over different parts of different glaciers suggests that the subglacial topography, glacier size and glacier orientation affect the overall flow patterns. The velocities are very low in the surface debris cover of some glaciers, which suggests debris cover has an impact on glacier motion.     

基于卫星气候资料的1989-2015年南北极海冰面积变化分析

利用被动微波卫星海冰密集度气候资料,分析了1989-2015年南北极海冰面积和密集度的长期变化趋势。结果表明：研究期内,北极年平均海冰面积减少,南极海冰面积增加,变化趋势分别为-0.569×10⁶ km²·（10a）^-1和0.327×10⁶ km²·（10a）^-1,均通过了0.01水平的显著性检验,两极海冰面积变化趋势表现出明显的"非对称性"。两极总海冰面积出现了下降,变化趋势为-0.242×10⁶ km²·（10a）^-1。年海冰密集度在北极地区普遍减少,而在南极地区的变化趋势存在显著的空间差异,威德尔海、罗斯海北部海冰密集度增加,趋势超过了10%·（10a）^-1,别林斯高晋海、阿蒙森海的海冰密集度出现下降。北极各月海冰面积的变化趋势存在明显的季节差异,7-10月海冰面积减少明显,其中9月减少最显著,趋势为-0.955×10⁶ km²·（10a）^-1。南北极海冰冻结和融化的时间不完全对应,北极融化与冻结时间基本平衡,南极海冰冻结时间明显长于融化时间。南极年内海冰面积的变化幅度大于北极,呈现显著的季节性特征。北极极小海冰面积的变化趋势最显著,达到了-0.636×10⁶ km²·（10a）^-1。南极极大海冰面积出现的时间后移明显,趋势为0.733候·（10a）^-1;极小海冰面积出现的时间非常稳定,没有明显的变化趋势。     

A Study of the hydrogeological environment of the lishan landslide area using resistivity image profiling and borehole data

Resistivity Image Profiling (RIP) surveys was used to develop a lithological and hydrogeological model of the subsurface in the southeastern part of Lishan landslide area of central Taiwan. The bedrock consists of slate in the study area. Based on RIP and rock samples collected from boreholes results, three electrical strata are recognized: colluvium, the shear zone composed of shear gouges and shattered slate, and the undisturbed slate formation. The steep shear zone with resistivity ranging between 100 ~ 260 Ω-m, plays a crucial role in the local hydrogeological environment, because it forms a natural barrier which blocks and retains groundwater flowing down the slope. Groundwater will brim over the barrier when the water level is high. Thus the inclined groundwater table remains stable from long-term monitoring. It strongly indicates that the groundwater recharge is greater than that of discharge. Therefore, the shear zone can provide information about the optimum locations for draining the excess groundwater in-situ for slope stability consideration.

The curved basal surface of the colluvium and the weathered slate can also be discerned from the resistivity variations and boreholes data. A series of circular patterns may associate with the main slope failure which migrated upwards from the lower slope.     

Phase and amplitude analyses of SAR data for landslide detection and monitoring in non-urban areas located in the North-Eastern Italian pre-Alps

The main aim of this paper is to exploit information obtained from satellite SAR data to detect and monitor instability phenomena affecting hilly and scarcely urbanized areas, overtaking some of the restrictions due to the presence of thick vegetation. To this end, phase and amplitude analyses of COSMO-SkyMed SAR data were carried out on two landslides located in the North-Eastern Italian pre-Alps: Cischele roto-translational slide and Val Maso rotational slide—earth flow. In the first case, the careful choice of processing parameters allowed to evaluate landslide displacement fields considering the phase difference between SAR acquisitions. In the second case, the speed of movement and the deep changes in morphology and vegetation induced by the landslide did not allow to apply DInSAR techniques; in this case the variation in the amplitude between SAR acquisitions allowed to detect the area affected by the instability. Obtained results show that methods and techniques to analyse satellite SAR data could be further refined in order to provide useful tools for landslide mapping and monitoring.     

Flood and landslide applications of near real-time satellite rainfall products

Floods and associated landslides account for the largest number of natural disasters and affect more people than any other type of natural disaster. With the availability of satellite rainfall analyses at fine time and space resolution, it has also become possible to mitigate such hazards on a near-global basis. In this article, a framework to detect floods and landslides related to heavy rain events in near-real-time is proposed. Key components of the framework are: a fine resolution precipitation acquisition system; a comprehensive land surface database; a hydrological modeling component; and landslide and debris flow model components. A key precipitation input dataset for the integrated applications is the NASA TRMM-based multi-satellite precipitation estimates. This dataset provides near real-time precipitation at a spatial-temporal resolution of 3 h and 0.25° × 0.25°. In combination with global land surface datasets it is now possible to expand regional hazard modeling components into a global identification/monitoring system for flood/landslide disaster preparedness and mitigation.     

A new approach of combining aerial photography with satellite imagery for landslide detection

Subsequent rainfall after a strong earthquake can easily trigger landslides. Aerial photography is always available after a strong earthquake but not always available in a timely manner after a subsequent rainfall following the earthquake. Sometimes, only panchromatic imagery is available because of its relatively low cost and large cover capacity. To detect multi-temporal landslides induced by earthquake and its post long-term effect, in company of other factors such as subsequent rainfall, traditionally, it needs to carry out image classification multi-times to calculate the variance information. Therefore, the accuracy will be affected by accumulated errors from multi-classification, and the process is very time-consuming. In this paper, a new semi-automatic approach combing aerial photograph with satellite imagery was proposed for rapid mapping of multi-temporal landslides. The approach can enhance the change information of each landslide event in one detection process. In addition, slope units were introduced to separate the detected conjoint landslides. Chenjiaba area, which located in the highest seismic intensity zone of Wenchuan earthquake in Beichuan, China, and had a strong rainfall 4 months later, was selected as a case study to demonstrate the usefulness of this methodology. Accuracy assessment was carried out by comparing those extracted ones with a manually prepared landslide inventory map. Correctly detected were 90.1 and 94.2 % for earthquake-induced landslides and new landslides, respectively. Results show that this approach is capable of mapping different temporal landslides efficiently and quickly.     

利用InSAR技术研究黄土地区滑坡分布

InSAR技术能够获取大面积、连续、高精度的地表垂直形变信息,可用来监测地震、火山、滑坡等自然灾害造成的地表形变。文章介绍了InSAR技术在监测陕北黄土地区滑坡中的应用,首先进行野外地质勘察和TM光学遥感影像解译,接着通过EnviSat SAR数据差分干涉处理,获取研究区干涉形变场,提取出滑坡位移量,最后详细分析黄草湾至董家寺沿线一带的滑坡变形范围,并划定出了4个有一定变形的重点监视区。     

On the applicability of satellite SAR interferometry to landslide hazards detection in hilly areas: a case study of Shuicheng,Guizhou in Southwest China

Landslides - SAR Interferometry (InSAR) has been proven to be effective for measuring landslides deformation. However, the InSAR application of landslide mapping is limited by the blind observation...     

三峡库区树坪滑坡变形失稳机制分析

树坪滑坡自2003年三峡水库蓄水以来,就一直持续变形。为了对其稳定性及变形发展趋势进行评价和预测,有必要对其变形失稳机制进行深入研究。为此,采用现场地质调查和勘探的方法确定了滑坡的形态和性质;充分挖掘变形监测数据,详细分析了滑坡的变形特征。在此基础上,深入研究了变形失稳机制及影响因素,并对滑坡的稳定性进行了计算和预测。结果表明,滑坡区地形、岩性及地质构造等地质因素控制了树坪滑坡的形成和发展;库水位下降和大气降雨进一步激励了滑坡的变形。库水位下降,坡体内地下水位随之下降,但其速度远小于库水位下降速度,导致坡体内水力梯度和渗透力明显增大,从而使滑坡稳定性急剧下降,并且库水位下降速度越快,滑坡的位移速率也越大,是典型的水库下降型滑坡。在库水位下降过程中,若出现明显的降雨过程,更加剧了滑坡的变形,有产生大规模滑动的可能性,须采取防护治理措施。     

The effectiveness of high-resolution LiDAR data combined with PSInSAR data in landslide study

The spatial resolution of digital elevation models (DEMs) is an important factor for reliable landslide studies. Multi-interferometric techniques such as persistent scatterer interferometric synthetic aperture radar (PSInSAR) are used to evaluate the landslide state of activity and its ground deformation velocity, which is commonly measured along the satellite line of sight (LOS). In order to compare velocities measured by different satellites in different periods, their values can be projected along the steepest slope direction, which is the most probable direction of real movement. In order to achieve this result, DEM-derived products are needed. In this paper, the effectiveness of different DEM resolutions was evaluated in order to project ground deformation velocities measured by means of PSInSAR technique in two different case studies in the Messina Province (Sicily, southern Italy): San Fratello and Giampilieri. Three DEMs were used: (i) a 20-m resolution DEM of the Italian Military Geographic Institute (IGM), (ii) a 2-m resolution DEM derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data for the San Fratello 2010 landslide, and (iii) a 1-m resolution DEM derived from ALS LiDAR data for the area of Giampilieri. The evaluation of the applied method effectiveness was performed by comparing the DEMs elevation with those of each single permanent scatterer (PS) and projecting the measured velocities along the steepest slope direction. Results highlight that the higher DEM resolution is more suitable for this type of analysis; in particular, the PS located nearby the watershed divides is affected by geometrical problems when their velocities are projected along the steepest slope.     

Natural Gas Prospecting by Using Satellite MT Data in Chishui Area,Guizhou

Oil-gas remote sensing information is obtained from satellite TM data through graphic treatment in the light of the hydrocarbon-microseepage theory.The nine target areas (of three types)selected on this basis concide well with the occurrence of natural gases and have been proved by subsequent prospecting .Plants in the target greas are characterized.as a result of hydrocarbon-microseepage,by abnormal spectral features with the absorption peaks of chlorophyll shifting toward blue light,reflectivity in the range of visible light increasing and reflectivity in the near infrared region decreasing.     

Statistical modelling of Europe-wide landslide susceptibility using limited landslide inventory data

In many regions, the absence of a landslide inventory hampers the production of susceptibility or hazard maps. Therefore, a method combining a procedure for sampling of landslide-affected and landslide-free grid cells from a limited landslide inventory and logistic regression modelling was tested for susceptibility mapping of slide- and flow-type landslides on a European scale. Landslide inventories were available for Norway, Campania (Italy), and the Barcelonnette Basin (France), and from each inventory, a random subsample was extracted. In addition, a landslide dataset was produced from the analysis of Google Earth images in combination with the extraction of landslide locations reported in scientific publications. Attention was paid to have a representative distribution of landslides over Europe. In total, the landslide-affected sample contained 1,340 landslides. Then a procedure to select landslide-free grid cells was designed taking account of the incompleteness of the landslide inventory and the high proportion of flat areas in Europe. Using stepwise logistic regression, a model including slope gradient, standard deviation of slope gradient, lithology, soil, and land cover type was calibrated. The classified susceptibility map produced from the model was then validated by visual comparison with national landslide inventory or susceptibility maps available from literature. A quantitative validation was only possible for Norway, Spain, and two regions in Italy. The first results are promising and suggest that, with regard to preparedness for and response to landslide disasters, the method can be used for urgently required landslide susceptibility mapping in regions where currently only sparse landslide inventory data are available.     

三峡库区白家包滑坡变形特征与影响因素分析

针对三峡库区阶跃型滑坡,以白家包滑坡为例,统计分析滑坡位移、变形速率和裂缝监测数据。显示滑坡在2007年6月之前为蠕动变形初期,受降雨和库水位等外界因素的作用,6月滑坡发生剧烈变形,之后一直保持约75°方向滑动。滑坡体中前部位移速率大于后缘,其变形具有牵引式特点。滑体上裂缝与变形位移具有一致性,位移量越大的区域裂缝越发育。将位移速率与降雨、库水位和地下水进行影响机制分析,建立滑坡变形与外界动态影响因素之间的响应关系。结果表明降雨量和库水位变化是引起滑坡季节性变形的主要因素,其中降雨强度、库水位下降及下降速率是导致滑坡位移速率波动大小的关键因子。