Utilizing Free-Use Satellite Images and Remote Sensing Software to Detect Landslides

Landslides can happen without warning, and having the data to decide next steps after they occur is imperative. With the continued emergence of free-use data such as that from the Copernicus/ESA program, decision-making has become easier. This data, with its high temporal frequency, spatial accuracy and broad coverage, provides a solid base to work from. Multimodal approaches, such as combining information from optical and radar sensors like the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites, can lead to improved accuracy, detection and verification of landslide phenomena.

This paper aims to demonstrate that process by combining Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data in rapid and automated processes. Then, several change detection algorithms in ERDAS IMAGINE remote sensing software will be used to analyse that data and easily create a visual representation of the activity surrounding the landslide.