Innovative remote sensing technologies e.g., sub-0.5 m resolution, daily image capacity optical satellite constellations, UAV and LiDAR, can provide imagery suitable for producing detailed (“engineering scale”) topographic maps and DEM. High preci...
Innovative remote sensing technologies e.g., sub-0.5 m resolution, daily image capacity optical satellite constellations, UAV and LiDAR, can provide imagery suitable for producing detailed (“engineering scale”) topographic maps and DEM. High precision measurements of ground surface and infrastructure deformations can also be obtained. Satellite radar sensors and advanced InSAR techniques offer great potential for multi-scale (from regional scale to site-specific) deformation monitoring thanks to wide-area coverage, regular schedule with increasing re-visit frequency, while maintaining high spatial resolution and millimetre precision of measurement. Furthermore, with the improved digital image processing techniques we now have a capability of delivering more rapidly high quality information that is useful (and cost-effective) for many engineering applications, both in research and practice. For example, remotely sensed data can assist in:
- terrain mapping (e.g., for lifeline routing)
- site selection and characterization
- geohazards assessment and monitoring (e.g., wide-area subsidence, local settlements, slope instability/landslides)
- monitoring human-induced land instability (e.g., subsidence due to ground water withdrawal)
- monitoring engineering structures (e.g., stability of transportation infrastructure, dams)
- monitoring mining operations (e.g., slope instability issues in open cast mines)
- monitoring and management of oil/gas field operations (e.g., addressing ground instability issues)
- rapid engineering structure damage assessment (e.g. building structural damage after an earthquake)
However, engineering geologists typically have limited knowledge of new remote sensing technologies.
Therefore, a greater opening of the profession to closer multi-disciplinary collaborations is necessary to fully benefit from the big data that innovative remote sensing can now produce.