Practical estimation of landslide kinematics using psi data

Abstract

Kinematics is a key component of a landslide hazard because landslides moving at similar rates can affect structures or collapse differently depending on their mechanisms. While a complete definition of landslide kinematics requires integrating surface and subsurface site investigation data, its practical estimate is usually based on 2D profiles of surface slope displacements. These can be now measured accurately using Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PSI), which exploits open access satellite imagery. Although 2D profiles of kinematic quantities are easy to retrieve, the efficacy of possible descriptors and extraction strategies has not been systematically compared, especially for complex landslides. Large, slow rock slope deformations, characterized by low displacement rates (<50 mm/year) and spatial and temporal heterogeneities, are an excellent testing ground to explore the best approaches to exploit PSI data from Sentinel-1 for kinematic characterization. For three case studies, we extract profiles of different kinematic quantities using different strategies and evaluate them against field data and simplified numerical modelling. We suggest that C-band PSI data allow for an effective appraisal of complex landslide kinematics, provided that the interpretation is (a) based on decomposed velocity vector descriptors, (b) extracted along critical profiles using interpolation techniques respectful of landslide heterogeneity, and (c) constrained by suitable model-based templates and field data.