Contribution of multi-temporal remote sensing images to characterize landslide slip surface ‒ Application to the La Clapière landslide (France)

Abstract

Abstract. Landslide activity is partly controlled by the geometry of the slip surface. This activity is traduced at the surface by displacements and topographic variations. Consequently, multi-temporal remote sensing images can be used in order to characterize the geometry of landslide slip surface and its spatial and temporal evolution. Differential Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are obtained by subtracting two DEMs of different years. A method of multi-temporal images correlation allows to generate displacement maps that can be interpreted in terms of velocity and direction of movements. These data are then used to characterize qualitatively the geometry of the slip surface of the la Clapière landslide (French Southern Alps). Distribution of displacement vectors and of topographic variations are in accordance with a curved slip surface, characterizing a preferential rotational behaviour of this landslide. On the other hand, a spatial and temporal evolution of the geometry of the slip surface is pointed out. Indeed, a propagation of the slip surface under the Iglière bar, in the W part of the landslide, is suspected and can be linked to the acceleration of the landslide in 1987. This study shows the high potential of multi-temporal remote sensing images for slip surface characterization. Although this method could not replace in situ investigations, it can really help to well distribute geophysical profiles or boreholes on unstable areas.

Technical Note: Use of remote sensing for landslide studies in Europe

“…This methodology has been used to measure displacements not only for landslides (Delacourt et al, 2004(Delacourt et al, , 2007Casson et al, 2005) but also for earthquakes (Van Puymbroeck et al, 2000) and for glacier flows (Kääb, 2002;Berthier et al, 2005). The capability of DIC (Digital Image Correlation) to monitor landslide surfaces over multiple time steps has been demonstrated with aerial photographs (Casson et al, 2005) and Terrestrial Optical Photogrammetry (Sturzenegger and Stead, 2009;Travelletti et al, 2012). Only a few studies have reported the usefulness of satellite images in this field (Delacourt et al, 2007(Delacourt et al, , 2009; Leprince et al, 2008) and exhaustive research addressing to the analysis of longer available very high resolution (VHR) satellite time series is still missing.…”

DRELIO : Un drone hélicoptère pour le suivi des zones littorales

“…Jusqu'à présent, les images satellitaires étaient privilégiées bien qu'elles présentent des limitations en termes de résolution spatiale restreinte malgré les progrès récents, de couverture nuageuse, ou bien d'heure locale d'acquisition fixe, ... . L'utilisation de plates-formes aéroportées résout en partie ces problèmes puisqu'elles permettent d'obtenir des données avec une résolution spatiale inférieure à 50 cm (CASSON et al, 2005). De plus, la télédétection aérienne permet l'acquisition de couples stéréoscopiques à partir desquels des Modèles Numériques de Terrain (MNT) de précision submétrique peuvent être calculés.…”

“…Pour lever ces dernières limitations, de nouvelles techniques sont mises en oeuvre. Des plates-formes de tailles réduites, telles que des cerf-volants, des ballons et des drones apparaissent dors et déjà comme des outils très prometteurs pour les levés topographiques de glissements de terrain ou d'érosion de pentes (CASSON et al, 2005 ;JACOME et al, 2009), de rivières (LEJOT et al, 2007, mais également pour la surveillance des cultures (SUGIURA et al, 2005). Ces plates-formes sont d'une utilisation très flexible et permettent, pour un coût modéré, d'effectuer des levés répétés à périodicité variable (hebdomadaire à annuelle).…”

Potential and Limitation of SPOT-5 Ortho-Image Correlation to Investigate the Cinematics of Landslides: The Example of “Mare à Poule d’Eau” (Réunion, France)

“…The displacement field of slow to moderate velocity landslides (1.5 m/year < v < 1.5 m/month, [1]) is a fundamental parameter to measure, for both applied and research purposes [2][3][4][5]. If followed for a long period of time and coupled with measurements of external parameters such as rainfall or seismic activity, the displacement field can constrain numerical models of landslide evolution [6,7] and is also essential for risk mitigation.…”