From an article in AZO Optics by Usman Ahmed.
Novel opportunities for accurately studying broad or difficult-to-reach landslides have been developed. Innovative approaches built on various remote sensing data are vital resources for landslide risk assessment and mitigation.
Potential of UAVs in Detecting Landslides
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) utilization represents a significant advancement for landslide research and Earth observation. The initial methods relied on using UAVs equipped with small cameras to quickly identify landslides. UAVs equipped with primary single-lens cameras are subsequently employed to record and keep track of significant earth flows.
Time series of UAV images are subjected to the Structure from Motion (SfM) approach processing. The results are used to quantify surface deformation, measure landslide volumetric change, and determine the landslide dynamics.
Estimating the area’s evolution using UAV data enables a compelling valuation of residual risk on a medium to long-term scale.
UAV imagery and digital photogrammetry have been effective in helping to record slope conditions, improve our understanding of landslide processes, and accurately estimate slope instabilities. Using UAVs and machine learning algorithms for monitoring landslide risk areas and removing landslide susceptibility maps lead to the emergence of new and more creative methods for landslide investigation.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Technology for Landslide Investigations
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology is another frequently used instrument for numerous geotechnical research and landslide assessments. Airborne LiDARs are effective in the accurate representation of the surface, the monitoring of landslide dynamics, recognition of various types of mass movements, as well as the organization of slow-moving landslides in heavily vegetated areas.
Airborne LiDAR for landslide research is costly. Terrestrial LiDAR (TLS) surveys offer data with a higher temporal and spatial resolution at a lower cost. A general review of terrestrial laser scanning data processing and acquisition regarding the volume estimate, characterization, and monitoring of rock slopes has been developed.
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