Multi-Sensor and Multi-Scale Remote Sensing Approach for Assessing Slope Instability along Transportation Corridors Using Satellites and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems

Rapid slope instabilities (i.e., rockfalls) involving highway networks in mountainous areas pose a threat to facilities, settlements and life, thus representing challenge for asset management plans. To identify different morphological expressions of degradation processes that lead rock mass destabilization, we combined satellite uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)-based products over two study sites along the State Highway 133 sector near Paonia Reservoir, Colorado (USA). Along with PS-InSAR analysis covering 2017–2021 interval, high-resolution dataset composed optical, thermal multi-spectral imagery was systematically acquired during UAS surveys September 2021 June 2022. After pre-processing step including georeferencing orthorectification, final were processed through object-based multispectral classification change detection highlighting moisture or lithological variations identifying more susceptible deterioration detachments at small micro-scale. The analysis, on other hand, provided multi-temporal information catchment scale assisted understanding large-scale morpho-evolution displacements. This synergic combination offered multiscale perspective superimposed imprints denudation mass-wasting occurring site, leading evidence and/or early precursors collapses, effectively supporting maintenance practices.