Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models
Accurately assessing geo-hazards and quantifying landslide risks in mountainous environments are gaining importance in the context of the ongoing global warming. For an in-depth understanding of slope failure mechanisms, accurate monitoring of the mass movement topography at high spatial and tem...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-12-01
|
| Series: | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| Online Access: | https://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/5/791/2017/esurf-5-791-2017.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819012586301030400 |
|---|---|
| author | F. Clapuyt V. Vanacker F. Schlunegger K. Van Oost |
| author_facet | F. Clapuyt V. Vanacker F. Schlunegger K. Van Oost |
| author_sort | F. Clapuyt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Accurately assessing geo-hazards and quantifying landslide risks in
mountainous environments are gaining importance in the context of the ongoing
global warming. For an in-depth understanding of slope failure mechanisms,
accurate monitoring of the mass movement topography at high spatial and
temporal resolutions remains essential. The choice of the acquisition
framework for high-resolution topographic reconstructions will mainly result
from the trade-off between the spatial resolution needed and the extent of
the study area. Recent advances in the development of unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV)-based image acquisition combined with the structure-from-motion (SfM)
algorithm for three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction make the UAV-SfM framework
a competitive alternative to other high-resolution topographic techniques.<br><br>
In this study, we aim at gaining in-depth knowledge of the Schimbrig
earthflow located in the foothills of the Central Swiss Alps by monitoring
ground surface displacements at very high spatial and temporal resolution
using the efficiency of the UAV-SfM framework. We produced distinct
topographic datasets for three acquisition dates between 2013 and 2015 in
order to conduct a comprehensive 3-D analysis of the landslide. Therefore, we
computed (1) the sediment budget of the hillslope, and (2) the horizontal and
(3) the three-dimensional surface displacements. The multitemporal UAV-SfM
based topographic reconstructions allowed us to quantify rates of sediment
redistribution and surface movements. Our data show that the Schimbrig
earthflow is very active, with mean annual horizontal displacement ranging
between 6 and 9 m. Combination and careful interpretation of
high-resolution topographic analyses reveal the internal mechanisms of the
earthflow and its complex rotational structure. In addition to variation in
horizontal surface movements through time, we interestingly showed that the
configuration of nested rotational units changes through time. Although there
are major changes in the internal structure of the earthflow in the 2013–2015
period, the sediment budget of the drainage basin is nearly in equilibrium.
As a consequence, our data show that the time lag between sediment
mobilization by landslides and enhanced sediment fluxes in the river network
can be considerable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:46:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-526bf0d47f254f9d91bdea48ee614be4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-6311 2196-632X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:46:24Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| spelling | doaj.art-526bf0d47f254f9d91bdea48ee614be42022-12-21T19:20:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth Surface Dynamics2196-63112196-632X2017-12-01579180610.5194/esurf-5-791-2017Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM modelsF. Clapuyt0V. Vanacker1F. Schlunegger2K. Van Oost3Earth and Life Institute, Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumEarth and Life Institute, Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumInstitut für Geologie, Universität Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandEarth and Life Institute, Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumAccurately assessing geo-hazards and quantifying landslide risks in mountainous environments are gaining importance in the context of the ongoing global warming. For an in-depth understanding of slope failure mechanisms, accurate monitoring of the mass movement topography at high spatial and temporal resolutions remains essential. The choice of the acquisition framework for high-resolution topographic reconstructions will mainly result from the trade-off between the spatial resolution needed and the extent of the study area. Recent advances in the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based image acquisition combined with the structure-from-motion (SfM) algorithm for three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction make the UAV-SfM framework a competitive alternative to other high-resolution topographic techniques.<br><br> In this study, we aim at gaining in-depth knowledge of the Schimbrig earthflow located in the foothills of the Central Swiss Alps by monitoring ground surface displacements at very high spatial and temporal resolution using the efficiency of the UAV-SfM framework. We produced distinct topographic datasets for three acquisition dates between 2013 and 2015 in order to conduct a comprehensive 3-D analysis of the landslide. Therefore, we computed (1) the sediment budget of the hillslope, and (2) the horizontal and (3) the three-dimensional surface displacements. The multitemporal UAV-SfM based topographic reconstructions allowed us to quantify rates of sediment redistribution and surface movements. Our data show that the Schimbrig earthflow is very active, with mean annual horizontal displacement ranging between 6 and 9 m. Combination and careful interpretation of high-resolution topographic analyses reveal the internal mechanisms of the earthflow and its complex rotational structure. In addition to variation in horizontal surface movements through time, we interestingly showed that the configuration of nested rotational units changes through time. Although there are major changes in the internal structure of the earthflow in the 2013–2015 period, the sediment budget of the drainage basin is nearly in equilibrium. As a consequence, our data show that the time lag between sediment mobilization by landslides and enhanced sediment fluxes in the river network can be considerable.https://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/5/791/2017/esurf-5-791-2017.pdf |
| spellingShingle | F. Clapuyt V. Vanacker F. Schlunegger K. Van Oost Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models Earth Surface Dynamics |
| title | Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models |
| title_full | Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models |
| title_fullStr | Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models |
| title_short | Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models |
| title_sort | unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3 d time series derived from uav sfm models |
| url | https://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/5/791/2017/esurf-5-791-2017.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fclapuyt unravellingearthflowdynamicswith3dtimeseriesderivedfromuavsfmmodels AT vvanacker unravellingearthflowdynamicswith3dtimeseriesderivedfromuavsfmmodels AT fschlunegger unravellingearthflowdynamicswith3dtimeseriesderivedfromuavsfmmodels AT kvanoost unravellingearthflowdynamicswith3dtimeseriesderivedfromuavsfmmodels |