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Landslide susceptibility modeling assisted by Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI): an example from the northwestern coast of Malta

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Abstract

Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI) techniques are widely employed in geosciences to detect and monitor landslides with high accuracy over large areas, but they also suffer from physical and technological constraints that restrict their field of application. These limitations prevent us from collecting information from several critical areas within the investigated region. In this paper, we present a novel approach that exploits the results of PSI analysis for the implementation of a statistical model for landslide susceptibility. The attempt is to identify active mass movements by means of PSI and to avoid, as input data, time-/cost-consuming and seldom updated landslide inventories. The study has been performed along the northwestern coast of Malta (central Mediterranean Sea), where the peculiar geological and geomorphological settings favor the occurrence of a series of extensive slow-moving landslides. Most of these consist in rock spreads, evolving into block slides, with large limestone blocks characterized by scarce vegetation and proper inclination, which represent suitable natural radar reflectors for applying PSI. Based on geomorphometric analyses and geomorphological investigations, a series of landslide predisposing factors were selected and a susceptibility map created. The result was validated by means of cross-validation technique, field surveys and global navigation satellite system in situ monitoring activities. The final outcome shows a good reliability and could represent an adequate response to the increasing demand for effective and low-cost tools for landslide susceptibility assessment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge European Space Agency for providing ERS and ENVISAT radar images (C1P.7044) and AquaBioTech Group for sharing LiDAR data. The LiDAR survey (HYPERLINK “http://www.airbornehydro.com/hawkeyeii”) was carried on HawkEye II of the Airborne Hydrography AB company. SAR processing was performed using Gamma software. The research is part of the project “Coupling terrestrial and marine datasets for coastal hazard assessment and risk reduction in changing environments” funded by the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement of the Council of Europe (responsible M. Soldati). We thank the two anonymous reviewers for their significant comments that helped improving the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth, Life and Environment Sciences, University of Urbino, Campus “E. Mattei”, 61029, Urbino, Italy

    Daniela Piacentini

  2. Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Stefano Devoto

  3. National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (CNR-IRPI), Padua, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127, Padua, Italy

    Matteo Mantovani & Alessandro Pasuto

  4. Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo S. Eufemia 19, 41121, Modena, Italy

    Mariacristina Prampolini & Mauro Soldati

Authors
  1. Daniela Piacentini
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  2. Stefano Devoto
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  3. Matteo Mantovani
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  4. Alessandro Pasuto
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  5. Mariacristina Prampolini
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  6. Mauro Soldati
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Correspondence to Matteo Mantovani.

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Piacentini, D., Devoto, S., Mantovani, M. et al. Landslide susceptibility modeling assisted by Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI): an example from the northwestern coast of Malta. Nat Hazards 78, 681–697 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1740-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1740-8

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