Active Landslide Detection Based on Sentinel-1 Data and InSAR Technology in Zhouqu County, Gansu Province, Northwest China

Abstract

Zhouqu County in Gansu Province, Northwest China, is typically highly prone to landslides. On July 12, 2018, a landslide blocked the Bailong River near Zhouqu County, posing a serious threat to the life and property of local residents and the safety of infrastructure. Small baseline subset interferometry synthetic aperture radar technology (SBAS-InSAR) was adopted to identify the potential active landslides in the surrounding area of Zhouqu County, using ascending and descending orbit Sentinel-1 satellite images taken from October 2017 to December 2018. The surface deformation areas detected by SBAS-InSAR were verified by optical remote sensing image interpretation and field investigation, and a total of 23 active landslides were identified finally. The deformation characteristics of four typical landslides are analysed in detail using deformation velocity and rainfall data. It is found that the deformation velocity of landslides in this area is mainly affected by rainfall and there is a lag effect. The results can provide a reference for the prevention and control of landslide risk in Zhouqu County.

Keywords

Zhouqu County / landslide / detection / small baseline subset interferometry

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