Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea

Korea has been recognized as an earthquake-safe zone, but over recent decades, several earthquakes, at a medium scale or higher, have occurred in succession in and around the major fault zones, hence there is a need for studying active faults to mitigate earthquake risks. In Korea, research on activ...

Ամբողջական նկարագրություն

Մատենագիտական մանրամասներ
Հիմնական հեղինակներ: Sangmin Ha, Moon Son, Yeong Bae Seong
Ձևաչափ: Հոդված
Լեզու:English
Հրապարակվել է: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Շարք:Remote Sensing
Խորագրեր:
Առցանց հասանելիություն:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/19/4838
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author Sangmin Ha
Moon Son
Yeong Bae Seong
author_facet Sangmin Ha
Moon Son
Yeong Bae Seong
author_sort Sangmin Ha
collection DOAJ
description Korea has been recognized as an earthquake-safe zone, but over recent decades, several earthquakes, at a medium scale or higher, have occurred in succession in and around the major fault zones, hence there is a need for studying active faults to mitigate earthquake risks. In Korea, research on active faults has been challenging owing to urbanization, high precipitation, and erosion rates, and relatively low earthquake activity compared to the countries on plate boundaries. To overcome these difficulties, the use of aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) techniques providing high-resolution images and digital elevation models (DEM) that filter vegetation cover has been introduced. Multiple active fault outcrops have been reported along the Yangsan Fault, which is in the southeastern area of the Korean Peninsula. This study aimed to detect active faults by performing a detailed topographic analysis of aerial LiDAR images in the central segment of the Yangsan Fault. The aerial LiDAR image covered an area of 4.5 km by 15 km and had an average ground point density of 3.5 points per m<sup>2</sup>, which produced high-resolution images and DEMs at greater than 20 cm. Using LiDAR images and DEMs, we identified a 2–4 m high fault scarp and 50–150 m deflected streams with dextral offset. Based on the image analysis, we further conducted a trench field investigation and successfully located the active fault that cut the Quaternary deposits. The N–S to NNE-striking fault surfaces cut unconsolidated deposits comprising nine units, and the observed slickenlines indicated dextral reverse strike-slip. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age dating results of the unconsolidated deposits indicate that the last earthquake occurred 3200 years ago, which is one of the most recent along the Yangsan Fault.
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spelling doaj.art-1d5df6c6ff5b4ccd9f194fe5583a901b2023-11-23T21:39:35ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-09-011419483810.3390/rs14194838Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, KoreaSangmin Ha0Moon Son1Yeong Bae Seong2Department of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaDepartment of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaDepartment of Geography, Korea University, Seoul 02841, KoreaKorea has been recognized as an earthquake-safe zone, but over recent decades, several earthquakes, at a medium scale or higher, have occurred in succession in and around the major fault zones, hence there is a need for studying active faults to mitigate earthquake risks. In Korea, research on active faults has been challenging owing to urbanization, high precipitation, and erosion rates, and relatively low earthquake activity compared to the countries on plate boundaries. To overcome these difficulties, the use of aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) techniques providing high-resolution images and digital elevation models (DEM) that filter vegetation cover has been introduced. Multiple active fault outcrops have been reported along the Yangsan Fault, which is in the southeastern area of the Korean Peninsula. This study aimed to detect active faults by performing a detailed topographic analysis of aerial LiDAR images in the central segment of the Yangsan Fault. The aerial LiDAR image covered an area of 4.5 km by 15 km and had an average ground point density of 3.5 points per m<sup>2</sup>, which produced high-resolution images and DEMs at greater than 20 cm. Using LiDAR images and DEMs, we identified a 2–4 m high fault scarp and 50–150 m deflected streams with dextral offset. Based on the image analysis, we further conducted a trench field investigation and successfully located the active fault that cut the Quaternary deposits. The N–S to NNE-striking fault surfaces cut unconsolidated deposits comprising nine units, and the observed slickenlines indicated dextral reverse strike-slip. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age dating results of the unconsolidated deposits indicate that the last earthquake occurred 3200 years ago, which is one of the most recent along the Yangsan Fault.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/19/4838active faultLiDARtopographic analysisrecent earthquakeYangsan Fault
spellingShingle Sangmin Ha
Moon Son
Yeong Bae Seong
Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea
Remote Sensing
active fault
LiDAR
topographic analysis
recent earthquake
Yangsan Fault
title Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea
title_full Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea
title_fullStr Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea
title_full_unstemmed Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea
title_short Active Fault Trace Identification Using a LiDAR High-Resolution DEM: A Case Study of the Central Yangsan Fault, Korea
title_sort active fault trace identification using a lidar high resolution dem a case study of the central yangsan fault korea
topic active fault
LiDAR
topographic analysis
recent earthquake
Yangsan Fault
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/19/4838
work_keys_str_mv AT sangminha activefaulttraceidentificationusingalidarhighresolutiondemacasestudyofthecentralyangsanfaultkorea
AT moonson activefaulttraceidentificationusingalidarhighresolutiondemacasestudyofthecentralyangsanfaultkorea
AT yeongbaeseong activefaulttraceidentificationusingalidarhighresolutiondemacasestudyofthecentralyangsanfaultkorea