14 - Remote sensing techniques and landslides

Summary

Abstract

Over the past three decades, geophysical techniques, most notably remote sensing, have become a key component of landslide investigation. Key developments have been: (1) a move from the use of analog aerial and oblique photography through satellite image interpretation to the application of radar and laser technologies; and (2) the increased use of photogrammetry to allow remote collection of rock-slope property data. Throughout this period there has been a progressive improvement in the spatial resolution of the data available, cost, and geographic coverage. The result has been a continuous and often underappreciated improvement in our capacity to identify and analyze landslides. Some improvements have been progressive and gradual, such as in the capacity of optical satellite remote sensing, while others have occurred almost instantaneously, and with little fanfare, such as the appearance of the Google Earth tool. As a consequence, this field is vast and rapidly developing. This chapter aims to examine recent key developments in the use and application of these techniques in landslide investigation, focusing primarily on remote sensing. Likely future developments in this area are outlined in the final section, although with the caveat that predicting likely advances in technology and techniques is difficult and not without risk.