Multi-Level Sensing Technologies in Landslide Research—Hrvatska Kostajnica Case Study, Croatia

Abstract

In March 2018, a landslide in Hrvatska Kostajnica completely destroyed multiple households. The damage was extensive, and lives were endangered. The question remains: Can it happen again? To enhance the knowledge and understanding of the soil and rock behaviour before, during, and after this geo-hazard event, multi-level sensing technologies in landslide research were applied. Day after the event field mapping and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data were collected with the inspection of available orthophoto and “geo” data. For the landslide, a new geological column was developed with mineralogical and geochemical analyses. The application of differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) for detecting ground surface displacement was undertaken in order to determine pre-failure behaviour and to give indications about post-failure deformations. In 2020, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in the landslide body was undertaken to determine the depth of the landslide surface, and in 2021 ERT measurements in the vicinity of the landslide area were performed to obtain undisturbed material properties. Moreover, in 2021, detailed light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data were acquired for the area. All these different level data sets are being analyzed in order to develop a reliable landslide model as a first step towards answering the aforementioned question. Based on applied multi-level sensing technologies and acquired data, the landslide model is taking shape. However, further detailed research is still recommended.