Digital Image Correlation (DIC) Analysis of the 3 December 2013 Montescaglioso Landslide (Basilicata, Southern Italy): Results from a Multi-Dataset Investigation

Abstract

Image correlation remote sensing monitoring techniques are becoming key tools for providing effective qualitative and quantitative information suitable for natural hazard assessments, specifically for landslide investigation and monitoring. In recent years, these techniques have been successfully integrated and shown to be complementary and competitive with more standard remote sensing techniques, such as satellite or terrestrial Synthetic Aperture Radar interferometry. The objective of this article is to apply the proposed in-depth calibration and validation analysis, referred to as the Digital Image Correlation technique, to measure landslide displacement. The availability of a multi-dataset for the 3 December 2013 Montescaglioso landslide, characterized by different types of imagery, such as LANDSAT 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) and TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor), high-resolution airborne optical orthophotos, Digital Terrain Models and COSMO-SkyMed Synthetic Aperture Radar, allows for the retrieval of the actual landslide displacement field at values ranging from a few meters (2–3 m in the north-eastern sector of the landslide) to 20–21 m (local peaks on the central body of the landslide). Furthermore, comprehensive sensitivity analyses and statistics-based processing approaches are used to identify the role of the background noise that affects the whole dataset. This noise has a directly proportional relationship to the different geometric and temporal resolutions of the processed imagery. Moreover, the accuracy of the environmental-instrumental background noise evaluation allowed the actual displacement measurements to be correctly calibrated and validated, thereby leading to a better definition of the threshold values of the maximum Digital Image Correlation sub-pixel accuracy and reliability (ranging from 1/10 to 8/10 pixel) for each processed dataset.

UAV and Airborne LiDAR Data for Interpreting Kinematic Evolution of Landslide Movements: The Case Study of the Montescaglioso Landslide (Southern Italy)

“…From the visual analysis of dec2013DTM in combination with the field observations, three main scarps, and therefore three parts of the landslide body, were recognized (Figure 5a), unlike other interpretations [49,54] which had recognized only two main body. The first, crossing and cutting diagonally the "Montescaglioso-Piani Bradano" road, in the lower part of the landslide, was characterized by a shear surface with an exposed front of about 5 m. It caused the failure and toppling of the road support wall (scarp no.1 in Figure 5b).…”

“…Main and minor scarps, uphill-facing scarps, cracks, and ponds were mapped as the main geomorphological features ( Figure 2). In order to evaluate the activity state of the landslide after the movement of 3 December 2013, the evolution of superficial and deep displacements was monitored, immediately after the event, by several research groups [45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55].…”

A New Fast and Low-Cost Photogrammetry Method for the Engineering Characterization of Rock Slopes

“…In light of these considerations, the proposed DP approach can be highly suited to acquiring rock mass parameters (slope and discontinuity attitude, discontinuity spacing and persistence, joint roughness, etc.). However, in relation to the errors highlighted by the different DP acquired models when compared to the LS data, it has to be noted that this methodology is not suited for analyses requiring higher accuracy such as slope monitoring or multi-temporal change detection analyses [25,26].…”

Strain Measurements by Full-Field Optical Techniques

“…However, the 3D-DIC technique needs two fixed cameras taking images simultaneously and a 3D structure is created based on the binocular stereovision. The 3D displacement can be measured by tracking the deformation of versatile planes in those images [10]. 2D and 3D DIC are used in civil, and mechanical engineering with using available commercial softwares.…”