Analysis of Earthquake-Triggered Landslides through an Integrated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Approach: A Case Study from Central Italy

Abstract

Landslides are one of the most hazardous(危险) secondary(二次) effects of earthquakes(地震) due(由于) to the potential(潜在) for large-scale(规模) damage(损伤) and long-term(学期) alterations to landscapes. During the 2016–2017 seismic sequence(序列) in Central Italy, many earthquake(地震)-triggered landslides (EQTLs) affected the road network(网络) and mountain trails. In this study, a methodological approach(方法) for analysing EQTLs, based on data(数据) derived from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys, is shown. The approach(方法) is applied to investigate(探讨) the geometric, structural(结构), geomechanical, and kinematic features of the Foce rockslide, which is introduced in the back analysis(分析). The investigation(调查) involved three main(主要) steps: (i) set up of UAV-based Virtual Outcrop Models (VOMs) of the slope(边坡), (ii) a geomechanical characterisation of the rock mass(大众) through the VOM interpretation(解释) and conventional(常规) field data(数据), and (iii) 3D Limit Equilibrium (LE) slope(边坡) stability(稳定性) analyses(分析). This study highlights the potential(潜在) of UAV surveys for providing valuable(宝贵) data(数据) for stability(稳定性) analyses(分析), especially in emergency(紧急) conditions such(这样) as in the aftermath of seismic events.