High Spatial Resolution Satellite Imagery, DEM Derivatives, and Image Segmentation for the Detection of Mass Wasting Processes

An automated approach to identifying landslides using a combination of high-resolution satellite imagery and digital elevation derivatives is offered as an alternative to aerial photographic interpretation. Previous research has demonstrated that per pixel spectral response patterns are ineffective in discriminating mass movements. This technique utilizes image segmentation and digital elevation data in order to identify mass movements based not only on their reflectance but also on their shape properties and their geomorphic context. Dividing the classification by process into debris slides, debris flows, and rock slides makes the method far more useful than methods that group all mass movements together. A hierarchical classification scheme is utilized to eliminate areas that are not of interest and to identify areas where mass movements are probable. A supervised classification is then conducted using spectral, shape, and textural properties to identify failures that were greater than 1 ha in area. The resulting accuracy was 90 percent for debris slides, 60 percent for debris flows, and 80 percent for rock slides.