Observation of recent and active landslides from SAR ERS-1 and JERS-1 imagery using a stereo-simulation approach: Example of the Chicamocha valley in Colombia

Abstract

Landslides are generally not well observed on single SAR satellite images. On the example of the Chicamocha valley in Colombia, which served as a test zone for this work we show that stereoscopic observation of stereo-simulated ERS-1 or JERS-1 images is efficient. The simulation consists of generating orthoimages using a digital elevation model (DEM) producing vertical and oblique views. Landslides are detected due to the stereoscopic perception of small characteristic geomorphic features. The JERS-1 data are favoured over ERS-1 data because of their greater incidence angle.