Investigation of landslide susceptible terrain using landsat TM Imagery - Preliminary results
Scott L. Huang
Associate Professor
Robert C. Speck
Associate Professor
Been K. Chen
Graduate Student
Department of Mining and Geological Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks,
Alaska 99775-1190, U.S.A.
Abstract
Several approaches of satellite image processing in predicting landslide susceptible terrain in subarctic are given. Integration of Geo-data with Landsat TM images provides a better result than that solely based on satellite images. From this project, it has been noted that logical manipulation of different image and geo-data files reveals landslide sites more effectively than the other processing techniques such as texture analysis, signal processing, arithmetic processing, and classification.
Introduction
Mining has played an important and traditional role in the development of the economy of the state of Alaska. Vast land in this northern region is known to contain abundant mineral resources. Extraction of minerals and fossil fuel from the delicate arctic and subarctic environment is often a controversial issue. Many important technical difficulties remain to be resolved. One of those which adversely impact mining operations is slope failure within a mine and its surroundings.
Slope failure often complicate, if not dictate, development of a surface mine. Specific information on the prevention and control of the damage is often sought by government agencies and private sectors. An accurate assessment of potential landslide problems requires a pre-mining inventory of terrain physiography, including geology, soil characteristics, and identification of potential slope failure areas. Such an inventory or data base can then permit a comprehensive evaluation of mine design and planning prior to the development.
Surface mine planning and design are very complex and demanding tasks. Even minor errors in decision - making can result in major monetary expenditures. Detailed prior knowledge of a mine site can permit more flexible and accurate designs to minimize the financial risk and unnecessary engineering difficulties associated with errors in planning. Extraction of near-surface mineral resources by surface mining is a standard method in response to the need for the commodity. Landsat imagery ad aerial photographs have been used by government agencies and mining companies for investigation and inventory of potential hazards near prospective and active mine areas (Corses and Usibelli, 1989: Anderson et al., 1976).
Aerospace remote sensing and image interpretation are powerful tools for preliminary assessment of the effects of a natural hazards on resource development. Remote sensing can play an important role in investigations of slope movement, especially in the evaluation of
landslide susceptibility. Although most landslides are not directly identifiable on satellite images, the remotely sensed information, as noted by Gagnon (1975), provides regional physiography, definition of local geologic structure, and most landforms as well as land-use practices which relate to the potential of landslides.
Many of the remote sensing and image interpretation techniques can be utilized to assist in the design of a surface mine. This paper discusses the preliminary results from an on-going research effort which is investigating an inventorying pertinent parameters related to landslide susceptible terrain in the in the vicinity of surface coal mien in Healy, Alaska using satellite remote sensing techniques.
