The potential of point clouds for the analysis of rock kinematics in large slope instabilities: examples from the Swiss Alps: Brinzauls, Pizzo Cengalo and Spitze Stei

Abstract

Lidar measurements and UAV photogrammetry provide high-resolution point clouds well suited for the investigation of slope deformations. Today, however, the information contained in these point clouds is rarely fully exploited. This study shows three examples of large-scale slope instabilities located in Switzerland, which are actively monitored for reasons of hazard prevention. We used point clouds acquired by terrestrial laser scanning to (1) identify differences in kinematic behaviour of individual rock compartments; (2) highlight active shear planes within the moving rock mass; (3) define the kinematic process driving the slope displacements; (4) model basal sliding planes based on the 3D surface movements of rock slides; (5) calculate exact displacement angles, (6) provide estimates on destabilised rock volumes. This information has significantly contributed to the process understanding and has thus supported decision-making in hazard management.

Monitoring surface deformation with spaceborne radar interferometry in landslide complexes: insights from the Brienz/Brinzauls slope instability, Swiss Alps

“…On the other end, up-down components are exclusively measured through InSAR and cannot be mitigated with this analysis. Higher resolution datasets or constellation of satellite SAR sensors with more frequent acquisitions can help in retrieving a better representation of the 3-D behavior and allow for a more detailed kinematic interpretation of landslides based on the analysis of the displacement vector orientations (Kenner et al 2022).…”

Robust Estimation of Landslide Displacement From Multitemporal UAV Photogrammetry-Derived Point Clouds

“…In recent years, optical cameras and laser sensors carried by UAVs are often used to obtain dense point clouds to characterize the 3D morphology of landslide surfaces [23], [24], [25], [26], [27]. The advantages of optical cameras, such as the ability to obtain high-precision, low-cost, and true-color point clouds, mean that UAV photogrammetry-derived data is more conducive to interpreting landslides and is therefore more widely used for landslide monitoring compared with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data [28], [29], [30]. Therefore, in this study, we concentrate on estimating landslide displacement by using UAV photogrammetryderived data such as dense point clouds.…”

Remote Sensing and Geovisualization of Rock Slopes and Landslides

“…The development, particularly over the past twenty years, of ground-based and airborne remote sensing (RS) techniques [5] has the potential to allow these challenges to be addressed. RS methods provide a means to collect geological and structural data across large areas in a relatively short time and are therefore routinely used in rock mass and terrain characterization at various scales [6][7][8][9] as well as for monitoring purposes [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…Conventional reality and complete virtual immersion are located at the far ends of the "reality-virtuality (RV) continuum" [35] (Figure 1). large areas in a relatively short time and are therefore routinely used in rock mass and terrain characterization at various scales [6][7][8][9] as well as for monitoring purposes [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”