Mapping a Nation’s Landslides: A Novel Multi-Stage Methodology

Abstract

Through combining new technologies and traditional mapping techniques, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has developed a novel, multi-stage methodology for landslide mapping. 3-D aerial photograph interpretation, variable-perspective 3-D topographic visualisation and field mapping with digital data capture are being used to map the UK's landslides. The resulting ESRI ArcGIS polygons are published on BGS 1:50,000 geological maps and as digital data products. Data collected during mapping are also uploaded directly into the National Landslides Database maintaining a systematic, nationally-uniform landslide inventory. Repeat monitoring of selected landslides using terrestrial LIDAR and dGPS allows the database to be frequently updated and the proactive Landslide Response Team means that new landslide events can be mapped within days, if not hours, of their occurrence. The long-term aim is to apply this methodology throughout the UK, providing a wealth of data for scientific research and hazard assessment. This methodology is also suitable for application in an international context.

The National Landslide Database of Great Britain: Acquisition, communication and the role of social media

“…However, due to advances in mapping techniques and changing drivers for geological mapping, previously undiscovered ancient landslides are still being located through ongoing regional geological surveys (e.g. Pennington et al, 2009;Evans et al, 2013) and the published scientific literature and reports.…”

Natural and Anthropogenic Geohazards in Greater London Observed from Geological and ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT Persistent Scatterers Ground Motion Data: Results from the EC FP7-SPACE PanGeo Project

“…These have been categorized in the multi-part geohazard PanGeo polygon 'PGGH_London_001', and include 37 individual landslide deposits. The latter were mapped by BGS at 1:10,000 scale based on geology field campaigns and digital stereoscopic aerial photo interpretation, digital field data capture, terrestrial and airborne LiDAR, and differential GPS using a multi-stage methodology (EVANS et al 2013), and recorded in the mass movement layer of the DiGMapGB (BECKEN and GREEN 2000;SMITH 2013), and the NLD (FOSTER et al 2012). Mapped landslide deposits include both phenomena active at the time of survey, and older, inactive and relict landslides that are identified based upon the identification of certain morphological and sedimentological characteristics, and not necessarily on the observation of motion.…”

A Field Data Acquisition Method and Tools for Hazard Evaluation of Earthquake-Induced Landslides with Open Source Mobile GIS

“…At any rate, considering that, for a number of years, a variety of systems have been in use for the digital acquisition of data in the field [5][6][7]), mobile GIS was subsequently adopted in order to be able to digitally survey and archive data and information directly in the field. The digital survey system, which has been in use for years for landslide mapping [8][9][10][11], was prepared as needed, providing it with a database and forms to acquire data ready for subsequent processing. The aim of this paper is to explain a new relational database (SQLite/SpatiaLite) and provide a free field digital tool based on an open source GIS (see Appendix A) for any surveyor working with the PARSIFAL method.…”