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A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2020) | Viewed by 51388

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Prof. Dr. Francesca Bozzano

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Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences and Research Centre for Geological Risks (CERI), University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
Interests: engineering geology; landslides; geohazards
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Paolo Mazzanti

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Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
Interests: landslide monitoring; photomonitoring; interferometry; geological risks; geological hazards; satellite images; machine learning; image processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decades we have experienced a huge increase in population around the globe, the direct consequence of which is a growing interaction between mankind and the natural geological system. Earth observation by remote sensing is considered a key tool able to capture and monitor such a global issue. Remote sensing data can effectively drive decision-makers towards a sustainable interaction between earth dynamics and human life. The international scientific and industrial communities are making large efforts and investments in the implementation of new remote sensing technologies and space missions. In addition to the most traditional ground-based and aerial remote sensing solutions, in the last few years, we have observed an outburst of nano- and micro-artificial satellites and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) able to mount different kind of sensors. Combining passive and active sensors operating on a wide wavelength spectrum ranging from optical to microwave and using different sensing platforms it is now possible to collect an incredible amount of data able to provide useful information about the geological features of our planet. Remote sensing is today also an essential tool for applied disciplines like engineering geology, as it may allow us to quantitatively support the investigation of surface geological processes and evaluate their implications for civil engineering practice and natural resource exploitation (mining, oil and gas, hydropower, geothermal energy, etc.).

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect contributions at an international level describing innovative applications of different remote sensing technologies (e.g. optical and multispectral sensing, photogrammetry, digital image correlation, laser scanning, GNSS, InSAR/DInSAR/A-DInSAR) for the investigation and monitoring of engineering geological problems. Special attention will be paid to the impact of ground deformation induced by landslides, subsidence/uplift, settlements, seismicity, volcanism, glaciers, snow avalanches to the management and sustainable development of human structures, infrastructures and natural resources.

Dr. Prof. Francesca Bozzano
Dr. Prof. Paolo Mazzanti

Guest Editors

Keywords

Engineering Geology
Investigation, Monitoring
Landslides
Subsidence
Seismicity
Volcanism
Ground Deformation
InSAR
GNSS
Photogrammetry

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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18 pages, 10063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Optimization of an Automated Fixed-Location Time Lapse Photogrammetric Rock Slope Monitoring System

by Ryan Kromer, Gabe Walton, Brian Gray, Matt Lato and Robert Group

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(16), 1890; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11161890 - 13 Aug 2019

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 9664

Abstract

An automated, fixed-location, time lapse camera system was developed as an alternative to monitoring geological processes with lidar or ground-based interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (GB-InSAR). The camera system was designed to detect fragmental rockfalls and pre-failure deformation at rock slopes. It was implemented at a site along interstate I70 near Idaho Springs, Colorado. The camera system consists of five digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras which collect photographs of the rock slope daily and automatically upload them to a server for processing. Structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry workflows were optimized to be used without ground control. An automated change detection pipeline registers the point clouds with scale adjustment and filters vegetation. The results show that if a fixed pre-calibration of internal camera parameters is used, an accuracy close to that obtained using ground control points can be achieved. Over the study period between March 19, 2018 and June 24, 2019, a level of detection between 0.02 to 0.03 m was consistently achieved, and over 50 rockfalls between 0.003 to 0.1 m³ were detected at the study site. The design of the system is fit for purpose in terms of its ground resolution size and accuracy and can be adapted to monitor a wide range of geological and geomorphic processes at a variety of time scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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23 pages, 16309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Temporal Investigation of the Boulder Clay Glacier and Northern Foothills (Victoria Land, Antarctica) by Integrated Surveying Techniques

by Stefano Urbini, Gianluca Bianchi-Fasani, Paolo Mazzanti, Alfredo Rocca, Luca Vittuari, Antonio Zanutta, Valentina Alena Girelli, Michelina Serafini, Achille Zirizzotti and Massimo Frezzotti

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(12), 1501; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11121501 - 25 Jun 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5219

Abstract

The paper aims to detect the main changes that occurred in the area surrounding the Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) through analysis of multi-temporal remote sensing integrated by geophysical measurements. Specific attention was directed at realizing an integrated geomorphological study of the Boulder Clay Glacier, a partially debris-covered glacier belonging to the Northern Foothills (Victoria Land, Antarctica). This area was recently chosen as the location for the construction of a new semi-permanent gravel runway for MZS logistical airfreight operations. Photogrammetric analysis was performed by comparing three historical aerial photogrammetric surveys (carried out in 1956, 1985, and 1993) and Very High Resolution (VHR) GeoEye-1 satellite stereo-image coverage acquired in 2012. The comparison of geo-referenced orthophoto-mosaics allowed the main changes occurring in some particular areas along the coast nearby MZS to be established. Concerning the study of the Boulder Clay Glacier, it has to be considered that glaciers and moraines are not steady-state systems by definition. Several remote sensing and geophysical investigations were carried out with the main aim of determining the general assessment of this glacier: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); Geodetic Global Positioning System (GPS) network; multi-temporal satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry. The analysis of Boulder Clay Glacier moraine pointed out a deformation of less than 74 mm y⁻¹ in a time span of 56 years, value that agrees with velocity and deformation data observed by GPS and InSAR methods. The presence of unexpected brine ponds at the ice/bedrock interface and the deformation pattern observed in the central part of the moraine has to be monitored and studied, especially under the long-term maintenance of the future runway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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24 pages, 13156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterogeneous Behavior of the Campotosto Normal Fault (Central Italy) Imaged by InSAR GPS and Strong-Motion Data: Insights from the 18 January 2017 Events

by Daniele Cheloni, Nicola D’Agostino, Laura Scognamiglio, Elisa Tinti, Christian Bignami, Antonio Avallone, Roberta Giuliani, Stefano Calcaterra, Piera Gambino and Maurizio Mattone

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(12), 1482; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11121482 - 22 Jun 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4530

Abstract

On 18 January 2017, the 2016–2017 central Italy seismic sequence reached the Campotosto area with four events with magnitude larger than 5 in three hours (major event M_W 5.5). To study the slip behavior on the causative fault/faults we followed two different methodologies: (1) we use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) interferograms (Sentinel-1 satellites) and Global Positioning System (GPS) coseismic displacements to constrain the fault geometry and the cumulative slip distribution; (2) we invert near-source strong-motion, high-sampling-rate GPS waveforms, and high-rate GPS-derived static offsets to retrieve the rupture history of the two largest events. The geodetic inversion shows that the earthquake sequence occurred along the southern segment of the SW-dipping Mts. Laga normal fault system with an average slip of about 40 cm and an estimated cumulative geodetic moment of 9.29 × 10¹⁷ Nm (equivalent to a M_W~6). This latter estimate is larger than the cumulative seismic moment of all the events, with M_W > 4 which occurred in the corresponding time interval, suggesting that a fraction (~35%) of the overall deformation imaged by InSAR and GPS may have been released aseismically. Geodetic and seismological data agree with the geological information pointing out the Campotosto fault segment as the causative structure of the main shocks. The position of the hypocenters supports the evidence of an up-dip and northwestward rupture directivity during the major shocks of the sequence for both static and kinematic inferred slip models. The activated two main slip patches are characterized by rise time and peak slip velocity in the ranges 0.7–1.1 s and 2.3–3.2 km/s, respectively, and by ~35–50 cm of slip mainly concentrated in the shallower northern part of causative fault. Our results show that shallow slip (depth < 5 km) is required by the geodetic and seismological observations and that the inferred slip distribution is complementary with respect to the previous April 2009 seismic sequence affecting the southern half of the Campotosto fault. The recent moderate strain-release episodes (multiple M~5–5.5 earthquakes) and the paleoseismological evidence of surface-rupturing events (M~6.5) suggests therefore a heterogeneous behavior of the Campotosto fault. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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24 pages, 36044 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A New Fast and Low-Cost Photogrammetry Method for the Engineering Characterization of Rock Slopes

by Mirko Francioni, Matteo Simone, Doug Stead, Nicola Sciarra, Giovanni Mataloni and Fernando Calamita

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(11), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11111267 - 28 May 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5791

Abstract

Digital photogrammetry (DP) represents one of the most used survey techniques in engineering geology. The availability of new high-resolution digital cameras and photogrammetry software has led to a step-change increase in the quality of engineering and structural geological data that can be collected. In particular, the introduction of the structure from motion methodology has led to a significant increase in the routine uses of photogrammetry in geological and engineering geological practice, making this method of survey easier and more attractive. Using structure from motion methods, the creation of photogrammetric 3D models is now easier and faster, however the use of ground control points to scale/geo-reference the models are still required. This often leads to the necessity of using total stations or Global Positioning System (GPS) for the acquisition of ground control points. Although the integrated use of digital photogrammetry and total station/GPS is now common practice, it is clear that this may not always be practical or economically convenient due to the increase in cost of the survey. To address these issues, this research proposes a new method of utilizing photogrammetry for the creation of georeferenced and scaled 3D models not requiring the use of total stations and GPS. The method is based on the use of an object of known geometry located on the outcrop during the survey. Targets located on such objects are used as ground control points and their coordinates are calculated using a simple geological compass and trigonometric formula or CAD 3D software. We present three different levels of survey using (i) a calibrated digital camera, (ii) a non-calibrated digital camera and (iii) two commercial smartphones. The data obtained using the proposed approach and the three levels of survey methods have been validated against a laser scanning (LS) point cloud. Through this validation we highlight the advantages and limitations of the proposed method, suggesting potential applications in engineering geology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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18 pages, 39798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Goaf Locating Based on InSAR and Probability Integration Method

by Sen Du, Yunjia Wang, Meinan Zheng, Dawei Zhou and Yuanping Xia

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(7), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11070812 - 4 Apr 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3452

Abstract

Mining goafs can cause many hazards, such as burst water, spontaneous combustion of coal seams, surface collapse, etc. In this paper, a feature-points-based method for the efficient location of mining goafs is proposed. Different interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) is used to monitor the subsidence basin caused by mining. Using the principles of the probability integral method (PIM), the inflection points and the boundary points of the basin monitored by DInSAR are determined and used as feature points to locate the goaf. In this paper, the necessity of locating goafs and the traditional methods used for this task are discussed first. Then, the results of verifying the proposed method by both a simulation experiment and real data experiment are presented. Six RADARSAT-2 images from 13th October 2015 to 5th March 2016 were used to acquire the subsidence basin caused by the 15235 working faces of the Jiulong mining area. The average relative errors of the simulation experiment and real data experiment were about 6.43% and 12.59%, respectively. The average absolute errors of the simulation experiment and real data experiment were about 28 m and 38 m, respectively. In the final part of this paper, the error sources are discussed to illustrate the factors that can affect the location result. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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23 pages, 34625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermo-Physical and Geo-Mechanical Characterization of Faulted Carbonate Rock Masses (Valdieri, Italy)

by Jessica Maria Chicco, Damiano Vacha and Giuseppe Mandrone

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(2), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11020179 - 18 Jan 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4718

Abstract

Water in rock masses is a key factor in geo-mechanics, hydrogeology, mining, geo-thermics, and more. It is relevant in interpreting rock mass behavior (e.g., water-rock interaction or slope stability), as well as in defining heat transfer mechanisms. Pointing out the contribution of secondary porosity in increasing advective heat transfer instead of the conduction phenomenon, this study aims to highlight a different thermal response of sound rocks and faulted zones. Moreover, it provides some methodological suggestions to minimize environment disturbance in data collection and a robust interpretation of the results. An interesting outcrop was identified in a carbonate quarry near Valdieri (north-west Italian Alps): it was studied coupling a geo-mechanical and a thermo-physical approach. In particular, geo-mechanical and photogrammetric surveys, InfraRed Thermography (IRT), and Thermal Conductivity (TC) measurements were conducted. The rationale of the research is based on the fact that, when a substantial temperature difference between flowing groundwater and rocks was detected, IRT can reveal information about geo-mechanical and hydrogeological properties of the rock masses such as a degree of fracturing and joint interconnection. A comparative field and laboratory analysis using different devices enabled a more detailed insight providing values in both dry and wet conditions. A different thermal response was highlighted for the cataclastic zone as well. IRT results showed an evident inverse relationship among the number of joints per meter and the detected surface temperature. This is probably caused by the higher water flow within the cataclastic fault zone. Moreover, low fractured portions of the rock mass presented higher cooling rates and conducted heat far more than those with poor geo-mechanical characteristics (difference up to 40%). A negligible ratio between wet and dried thermal conductivity (about 1%) was also detected in lab measurements, which confirmed that primary porosity is not usually relevant in influencing thermal properties of the sound rock. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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20 pages, 4400 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Evidence of Instability in Previously-Mapped Landslides as Measured Using GPS, Optical, and SAR Data between 2007 and 2017: A Case Study in the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, California

by El Hachemi Bouali, Thomas Oommen and Rüdiger Escobar-Wolf

Remote Sens. 2019, 11(8), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11080937 - 18 Apr 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 16983

Abstract

Velocity dictates the destructive potential of a landslide. A combination of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), optical, and GPS data were used to maximize spatial and temporal coverage to monitor continuously-moving portions of the Portuguese Bend landslide complex on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. Forty SAR images from the COSMO-SkyMed satellite, acquired between 19 July 2012 and 27 September 2014, were processed using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI). Eight optical images from the WorldView-2 satellite, acquired between 20 February 2011 and 16 February 2016, were processed using the Co-registration of Optically Sensed Images and Correlation (COSI-Corr) technique. Displacement measurements were taken at GPS monuments between September 2007 and May 2017. Incremental and average deformations across the landslide complex were measured using all three techniques. Velocity measured within the landslide complex ranges from slow (> 1.6 m/year) to extremely slow (< 16 mm/year). COSI-Corr and GPS provide detailed coverage of m/year-scale deformation while PSI can measure extremely slow deformation rates (mm/year-scale), which COSI-Corr and GPS cannot do reliably. This case study demonstrates the applicability of SAR, optical, and GPS data synthesis as a complimentary approach to repeat field monitoring and mapping to changes in landslide activity through time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Engineering Geological Science)

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