Remote Sensing Integration to Geohazard Management at the Castle-Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, Nisyros Island, Greece

Abstract

The Holy Monastery of Panagia Spiliani is an important religious monument of the Aegean islands. The monastery is built on a steep rocky hill in the Castle of Mandraki on Nisyros island. On the slopes of the foundation area of the monastery, landslides have occurred in the past, mainly rockfalls and slides, while the risk of new similar phenomena in the future is high. To assist the geohazard assessment and mitigation design works, a combined survey using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry was implemented. Besides capturing the detailed morphology within high-resolution 3D point clouds, the main engineering geological units were identified on the slopes, while critical structural ground elements and unstable blocks were mapped in detail. These were quantified in terms of geotechnical parameters, and the engineering geological model of the hill was finalised and presented in an engineering geological map and cross sections. The mitigation measures are targeted towards the stabilisation of the wider area of the upper slope, hence the stability of the monastery and its surroundings risk elements, as well as the support of specific, large- to small-scale unstable rock blocks on the whole slope area, securing accessibility to the main beach of the village.