Littérature scientifique sur le sujet « Landslides, Early Warning Systems, GB-InSAR »

Abstract. In areas located near large rock cliffs, risk reduction by early warning monitoring systems highligts potentiality but also critical issues and limits. The paper examines two rock slope failures that occurred in a short time from each other near inhabited areas in the Italian Alps. The viscous behavior of the rock mass was reconstructed through data processing from ground-based Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR), and elaboration of acceleration and speed curves. Landslides types and underlying complexity associated with rock detachment mechanisms suggest the identification of precautionary alarm thresholds for collapse forecasting. The analysis of financial outlay, both for mitigation works and for monitoring activities, highlight the adequacy and the opportunity to combine passive systems, like embankments or rockfall drapery meshes, with a reliable monitoring network for early warning.

Slow to extremely slow landslides in urban areas may cause severe damage to buildings and infrastructure that can lead to the evacuation of local populations in case of slope accelerations. Monitoring the spatial and temporal evolution of this type of natural hazard represents a major concern for the public authorities in charge of risk management. Pariana, a village with 400 residents located in the Apuan Alps (Massa, Tuscany, Italy), is an example of urban settlement where the population has long been forced to live with considerable slope instability. In the last 30 years, due to the slope movements associated with a slow-moving landslide that has affected a significant portion of the built-up area, several buildings have been damaged, including a school and the provincial road crossing the unstable area, leading to the need for an installation of a slope monitoring system with early warning capabilities, in parallel with the implementation of mitigation works. In this paper, we show how satellite multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR) data can be effectively used when coupled with a wireless sensor network made of several bar extensometers and a borehole inclinometer. In fact, thanks to their wide area coverage and opportunistic nature, satellite InSAR data allow one to clearly identify the spatial distribution of surface movements and their long-term temporal evolution. On the other hand, geotechnical sensors installed on specific elements at risk (e.g., private buildings, retaining walls, etc.), and collected through Wi-Fi dataloggers, provide near real-time data that can be used to identify sudden accelerations in slope movements, subsequently triggering alarms. The integration of those two-monitoring systems has been tested and assessed in Pariana. Results show how a hybrid slope monitoring program based on the two different technologies can be used to effectively monitor slow-moving landslides and to identify sudden accelerations and activate a response plan.

Abstract. The presented questionnaire study summarizes an evaluation of approaches, techniques and parameters of slope-instability investigation and monitoring of their occurrence, reliability and the applicability of the monitoring techniques for early warning. The study is based on information collected from 86 monitored landslides in 14 European and Asian countries. Based on the responses, lidar ALS (airborne laser scanners), geophysical logging, aerial photographs, resistivity surveying, GB InSAR (ground-based synthetic aperture radar interferometer) and the refraction seismic were considered the most reliable methods for investigation of structure and character of landslides. Especially lidar ALS and geophysical logging were ranked high despite their application at relatively few landslides. Precipitation amount, pore-water pressure and displacement monitored by wire extensometers, dGPS and total stations, followed by air temperature and EM-emissions monitoring and displacement monitored by the TM 71 crack gauge were considered the most promising parameters for early warning.

The monitoring and early warning of a landslide in the reservoir area of a hydropower station are of great significance in the dam structure of the hydropower station and in the safety of people’s life and property on the reservoir bank. In this study, a new ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar system LKR-05-KU-S100 was used to carry out field monitoring tests on Lagu landslide and Xiaozhaju landslide of Dahuaqiao hydropower station and No. 1 landslide on the left bank of Xiaowan hydropower station on the Lancang river. The results show that, during the monitoring period, Lagu landslide of Dahuaqiao hydropower station and No. 1 landslide on the left bank of Xiaowan hydropower station are basically stable, and the deformation trend of Xiaozhaju landslide is obvious so it should undergo continuous monitoring. At the same time, the field monitoring test also shows that the new ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar system LKR-05-KU-S100 has the advantages of high precision and long-distance, all-day, all-weather, and large-scale monitoring and has unique advantages and broad application prospects for the overall deformation monitoring of large landslides in the reservoir area.

On October 11 and November 3, 2018, the disaster chain of landslide-barrier lake occurred twice in Baige Village, Xizang Province. After the second sliding of the landslide, the danger of the landslide dam was eliminated by the manual excavation of the drain grooves. During this period, a ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (GB-InSAR) called “S-SAR” was utilized for real-time monitoring and analyzing 48 selected target pixels on the residual deformation bodies of landslides (divided into K1, K2, and K3 deformation zones) for 8 days. Through the real-time deformation map of pixels in the monitoring area obtained by S-SAR, the ranges of five strong deformation regions were identified and delineated. Based on the apparent cumulative deformation-time curve of each target pixel, the overall deformation law of K1, K2, and K3 deformation zones could be monitored and analyzed in real time. Based on a curve graph of the deformation rate, acceleration, and time of each target pixel, the K1, K2, and K3 deformation zones were within a uniform deformation stage. Taking the target pixel point and the corresponding time in which the deformation rate and deformation acceleration had a large, abrupt jump at the same time as the position and time of the near-slip failure, the 11 positions and moments of the near-slip failure were counted. The results presented here may represent a workable reference for emergency monitoring and early warning of similar sudden geological disasters.

The thesis has the main objective of improving landslide risk mitigation strategies, by exploiting advanced technologies, such as Ground Based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (GB-InSAR) systems. During the research programme, these instruments have been used and optimized to integrate existent Early Warning Systems, in order to reduce landslide risk.