Numerical Simulation and Modeling of Landslide-Related Hazards Using Geospatial Technology: Selected Case Studies from India and Abroad

The devastating effect and mitigation challenges due to landslide-related hazard have recently been observed to intensify manifold. Pertinently, it is time to accept that research works dedicated to landslide hazard zonation could not restrain itself from subjectivity as LHZ is operator, algorithm, and data-dependent. However, real-time mitigation mostly strives for available tailor-made solutions to alleviate effects of hazard. Thus, there is an ever-increasing demand to employ process-based modeling of mass movements involving snow avalanche, debris flows, and landslides. Numerical simulation and modeling using satellite data, ad rem, is still in budding stage in India but capable of objectively predicting runout in three dimensions and provide critical geophysical parameters, viz., velocity, momentum, height, and pressure at most vulnerable locations with a post-facto and predictive approach. This research work not only takes cues from advanced satellite-derived products but also engages emerging aerospace technology involving UAV, TLS, etc. as the mainstay that caters to ultra-high-resolution terrain attributes essential for landslide modeling in an integrated manner, designing remedial measures, to evacuate people and also help to simulate and understand the actual cause, process, and mechanism of landslides. In comparison to the space-borne inputs, the airborne or terrestrial platforms are better equipped with operational flexibility, rapid deployment, flight repeatability, low operational costs, and fewer weather-related flying. This work, thus, holistically aims to model selected landslides from India and abroad to showcase the use of EO and geospatial technology in disaster mitigation.