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Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition

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A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 14034

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stefano Devoto

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Guest Editor

Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Interests: slow-moving landslides; geohazard; coastal geomorphology; coastal boulder deposits; UAVs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Alberto Bolla

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Guest Editor

Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
Interests: landslides; slope stability; slope monitoring; numerical modelling; geohazard assessment; rock mechanics

Dr. Stefano Furlani

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Guest Editor

Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, TS, Italy
Interests: sea level change; rocky coast geomorphology; coastal karst morphology; carthography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Linley Hastewell

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Guest Editor

School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
Interests: coastal erosion; rocky coasts; boulder deposits; sediment tracing & transport; coastal change; storm response

Dr. Daniela Piacentini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza - University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
Interests: geomorphology; geomorphometry; landslides; GIS; mapping

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development and proliferation of UAVs in conjunction with accessible photogrammetric software allows for the acquisition and processing of large datasets of aerial images, which has considerably expanded the use of digital photogrammetry for geohazard assessment.

When studying rocky coasts, where a complex interaction of geomorphological processes occurs, aerially derived data can assist in the mapping and monitoring of coastal environments, resulting in improved understanding of the mechanisms that shape these dynamic landscapes.

Slow-moving landslides and rapid, brittle collapse of coastal cliffs are recurrent and are frequently associated with gravity-induced landforms at different scales, including newly formed joints, graben, and the accumulation of detached blocks. Low-lying rocky coasts are also subjected to hazardous events such as extreme storm waves, which have the ability to detach blocks from the sea floor and shore platforms, enabling boulder transport and deposition. These processes can induce toe excavation of steep plunging cliffs, triggering slope failures which hasten sea cliff retreat.

Data acquired from aerial surveys can improve monitoring and understanding of the processes that facilitate coastal evolution. For example, repeatable UAV surveys conducted using pre-determined flight plans can provide multitemporal information on slope geometry changes of steep cliffs affected by marine erosion and landsliding, as well as the displacement of boulders across shore platforms.

The recognition and characterization of these issues is essential for developing comprehensive geohazard assessments and implementing mitigation strategies to reduce risk exposure.

This Special Issue invites submissions from geoscientists actively engaged in the acquisition of aerial data to address rocky coastal geohazards. Topics for consideration include but are not limited to the following areas:

Inventory of coastal landslides and large boulder deposits generated by storm waves;
Geomorphological reconstruction and multitemporal analysis of landforms;
Land surface quantitative analysis;
Geomechanical characterization of coastal cliff and slope stability analysis;
UAV digital photogrammetry (UAV DP).

Dr. Stefano Devoto
Dr. Alberto Bolla
Prof. Dr. Stefano Furlani
Dr. Linley Hastewell
Dr. Daniela Piacentini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Rocky coasts
Landslides
Boulder deposits
Sea level change
Coastal erosion
Coastal vulnerability

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 45090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Characteristics of an Active Coastal Spreading Area Combining Geophysical Data with Satellite, Aerial, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Images

by Emanuele Colica, Luciano Galone, Sebastiano D’Amico, Adam Gauci, Roberto Iannucci, Salvatore Martino, Davide Pistillo, Peter Iregbeyen and Gianluca Valentino

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(5), 1465; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15051465 - 06 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

The northern region of the Maltese archipelago is experiencing lateral spreading landslide processes. This region is characterized by cliffs with a hard coralline limestone outcropping layer sitting on a thick layer of clay. Such a geological configuration causes coastal instability that results in lateral spreading which predispose to rockfalls and topplings all over the cliff slopes. The aim of this research was to develop a methodology for evaluating cliff erosion/retreat using the integration of geomatics and geophysical techniques. Starting from a 3D digital model of the Selmun promontory, generated by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, it was possible to map the fractures and conduct geophysical measurements such as electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar for the identification and mapping of vertical fractures affecting the hard coralline limestone plateau, and to create a 3D geological model of the study area. In addition to this, high-accuracy orthophotos from UAV that were captured between 1957 and 2021 were georeferenced into a GIS and compared to aerial and satellite images. The movement and evolution of boulders and cracks in rocks were then vectorized to highlight, track and quantify the phenomenon through time. The results were used to derive a qualitative assessment of the coastal variations in the geometric properties of the exposed discontinuity surfaces to evaluate the volumes and the stop points of the observed rockfalls. The outcomes of this research were finally imported in a GIS which offers an easy approach for the collection and processing of coastal monitoring data. In principle, such a system could help local authorities to address social, economic and environmental issues of pressing importance as well as facilitate effective planning in view of a risk mitigation strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition)

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19 pages, 17454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Rockfall Phenomena Contributing to the Evolution of a Pocket Beach Area Using Traditional and Remotely Acquired Data (Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, Southern Italy)

by Chiara Cappadonia, Fabio Cafiso, Riccardo Ferraro, Chiara Martinello and Edoardo Rotigliano

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(5), 1401; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15051401 - 02 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1357

Abstract

The coastal domain of central western Sicily is characterized by the presence of rocky coasts, which mainly consist of pocket beaches situated between bedrock headlands that constitute ecological niches of great touristic and economic value. In this peculiar morphodynamic system, the sedimentary contributions are mainly derived from the rockfall that affects the back of nearby cliffs or the sediment supply of small streams that flow into it. In this study, we investigated the geomorphological processes and related landforms that contribute to the evolution of a pocket beach area located in a coastal sector of NW Sicily Island. The cliffs in this are affected by several rockfalls, and deposits from these rockfalls also add to the rate of sedimentary contribution. The analysis was conducted through the application of traditional approaches and contemporary methods that have previously been used to forecast the collection of input data in the field, often under difficult conditions due to the accessibility of the sites, and which have been supported by UAV surveys. Through the analysis of the digital models of terrain and orthophotos, geometrical and multitemporal analyses of landforms were carried out. A dedicated software was utilized for the detection of rockfall runout zones and block trajectories and for defining the automatic extraction of rock mass discontinuities. The data were compared with those derived from traditional geomechanical surveys. The availability of the existing and acquired remote sensing data proved essential for this study for both defining the reference geological model and for performing the site-specific analysis of rockfall. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition)

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26 pages, 16869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring Coastal Erosion Using Remote Images: Comparison between Physically and Remotely Acquired Data on a Limestone Coast

by Joanna Causon Deguara, Ritienne Gauci and Rob Inkpen

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15010036 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1716

Abstract

Boulder-sized clasts on rocky coasts are considered as erosional signatures of extreme wave events and boulder attributes are often used in numerical models to estimate wave characteristics. The use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and related software has facilitated the monitoring of coastal areas, by generating models from which 2D and 3D measurements can be derived. However, the reliability and preciseness of such measurements is still to be determined. This study seeks to analyse the accuracy of boulder measurements by comparing the dimension data obtained through in-situ measurements with ex situ data generated from digital models, based on UAV images. The study area is a bouldered sloping coast located on the southeast coast of Malta (Central Mediterranean) that has developed into multiple limestone dipped strata with a fractured and heavily jointed morphology. The dimensions of c. 200 boulders in different morphological settings, such as clusters or ridges, have been statistically compared. The results show a very strong correlation between the two datasets, both in 2D and 3D; however some notable differences were observed at the individual boulder level. For the majority of boulders analysed, the A and B axes dimensions varied by ±10% to 20%. The C axis proved to be harder to measure accurately and showed a wider range of difference. Boulder volume results in the majority of cases varied from 0% to ±40%. Some tested methods of volume calculation may be more accurate and realistic than others depending on the boulder position in relation to other clasts and shore morphology. An automated digital analysis of the terrain surface to identify the boulder extents may offer possibilities for a more accurate estimation of boulder attributes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition)

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21 pages, 12304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land-Surface Quantitative Analysis to Investigate the Spatial Distribution of Gravitational Landforms along Rocky Coasts

by Daniela Piacentini, Francesco Troiani, Davide Torre and Marco Menichetti

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(24), 5012; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13245012 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2396

Abstract

The increasing availability of high-quality digital elevation models (DEMs) has been associated with a growing interest in developing quantitative analyses aimed at taking advantage of these detailed, updated, and promising digital datasets. Land-surface quantitative (LSQ) analysis is valuable for describing the land-surface topography and performing measures of the signature of specific geomorphic processes, taking into account site-specific geological contexts and morphoclimatic settings, proving to be particularly effective in transitional environments, such as rocky coasts. This paper presents the results of research aimed at investigating the spatial distribution of gravitational landforms along rocky coasts, by means of LSQ analysis based on a DEM with a ground resolution of 2 m, derived from airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) surveys. The study area is at Mt. San Bartolo (Northern Marche, Italy) and characterized by a sea cliff diffusely affected by gravitational phenomena of different sizes and types. Geomorphological and geological field data, interpretations of remotely sensed datasets derived from ad hoc unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, and DEM-derived hillshades were also adapted to support LSQ analysis. In detail, four morphometric variables (slope, roughness, terrain ruggedness index, and elevation standard deviation) were computed and the outputs evaluated based on visual–spatial inspections of derived raster datasets, descriptive statistics, and joint comparison. Results reveal the best performing variables and how combined interpretations can support the identification and mapping of zones characterized by varying spatial distribution of gravitational landforms of different types. The findings achieved along the Mt. San Bartolo rocky coast confirm that an approach based on land-surface quantitative analysis can act as a proxy to efficiently investigate gravitational slope processes in coastal areas, especially those that are difficult to reach with traditional field surveys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition)

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22 pages, 28349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska

by Xiaoru Dai, Barbara Schneider-Muntau, Wolfgang Fellin, Andrea Franco and Bernhard Gems

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(21), 4258; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13214258 - 23 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2645

Abstract

On 17 October 2015, a large-scale subaerial landslide occurred in Taan Fiord, Alaska, which released about 50 Mm

^{3}

of rock. This entered the water body and triggered a tsunami with a runup of up to 193 m. This paper aims to simulate [...] Read more.

On 17 October 2015, a large-scale subaerial landslide occurred in Taan Fiord, Alaska, which released about 50 Mm

^{3}

of rock. This entered the water body and triggered a tsunami with a runup of up to 193 m. This paper aims to simulate the possible formation of a weak layer in this mountainous slope until collapse, and to analyze the possible triggering factors of this landslide event from a geotechnical engineering perspective so that a deeper understanding of this large landslide event can be gained. We analyzed different remote-sensing datasets to characterize the evolution of the coastal landslide process. Based on the acquired remote-sensing data, Digital Elevation Models were derived, on which we employed a 2D limit equilibrium method in this study to calculate the safety factor and compare the location of the associated sliding surface with the most probable actual location at which this landslide occurred. The calculation results reflect the development process of this slope collapse. In this case study, past earthquakes, rainfall before this landslide event, and glacial melting at the toe may have influenced the stability of this slope. The glacial retreat is likely to be the most significant direct triggering factor for this slope failure. This research work illustrates the applicability of multi-temporal remote sensing data of slope morphology to constrain preliminary slope stability analyses, aiming to investigate large-scale landslide processes. This interdisciplinary approach confirms the effectiveness of the combination of aerial data acquisition and traditional slope stability analyses. This case study also demonstrates the significance of a climate change for landslide hazard assessment, and that the interaction of natural hazards in terms of multi-hazards cannot be ignored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition)

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14 pages, 69627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Application of UAV for the Analysis of Geological Hazard in Krk Island, Croatia, Mediterranean Sea

by Igor Ružić, Čedomir Benac, Sanja Dugonjić Jovančević and Maja Radišić

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(9), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13091790 - 04 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2432

Abstract

The coastal area around the settlement of Stara Baška (Krk Island, NE channel zone of Adriatic Sea) is in a delicate geodynamic balance. The main causes are the geological structure, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions and the direct exposure of the coast to the waves and storm surges. In this paper, the effects of the expected sea level rise on the geological vulnerability of the coast are investigated. Detailed field research was conducted. The complex coastal morphology was surveyed using an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and the UAV-derived data was used as a 3D point cloud and orthophoto for analysis. In the investigated coastal zone, more resistant Quaternary talus breccias predominate over more susceptible flysch rock mass. One major and two smaller landslides are in a creeping condition and pose a hazard to the surrounding homes. During storm surges, the pocket beaches are completely inundated due to the narrow beach width and waves reach the toe of the slopes. According to the expected sea level rise, coastal processes could become more intense and threaten the current coastal equilibrium. The vulnerability of a large part of the Stara Baška settlement will increase significantly. The conducted research showed the advantages of UAV-derived data for the study of complex rocky coasts and emphasized the need for repeatable UAV surveys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping and Monitoring Coastal Geohazards Using Aerial Data Acquisition)

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