Remote Monitoring of Ground Motion Hazards in High Mountain Terrain Using InSAR: A Case Study of the Lake Sarez Area, Tajikistan

High mountain terrains, with steep slopes and deep valleys, are generally challenging areas to monitor using satellite earth observation techniques since the terrain creates perspective distortions and differences in illumination that can occlude or obfuscate a significant proportion of the land. This is particularly prominent in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, where the oblique geometry can result in large areas of layover and shadow, which must be excluded from any analysis. Interferometric SAR (InSAR) is an established technique for monitoring ground motion and this study assesses its potential for geohazard monitoring in mountainous areas using Lake Sarez in Tajikistan as a case study, applying SAR data from the Sentinel-1 mission. It is shown that, although the effect of layover and shadow is severe, a judicious combination of ascending and descending satellite passes is still capable of surveying 88% of the land surface. It is also demonstrated that, through the use of an advanced InSAR technique (the APSIS™ Intermittent Small Baseline Subset technique), near-complete coverage of ground motion measurements is possible, despite intermittent snow cover. Moreover, this is achieved without the need for ground control, which can be hazardous to establish in such areas. It is concluded that a combination of satellite passes and advanced InSAR techniques greatly facilitates the remote monitoring of ground motion hazards in high mountain areas.

Territorial Assessment of the East Kazakhstan Geo/Ecotourism: Sustainable Travel Prospects in the Southern Altai Area

In spite of picturesque landscapes, natural beauties and authentic traditional lifestyles to be seen in East Kazakhstan, tourism is far from being developed. The Kazakh Altai (called the Kazakh Switzerland) is one the most colourful parts of the country and, indeed, all Central Asia. The attractiveness of this geographically isolated region (formerly a part of the Imperial Russia), consisting of rocky semi-deserts, vast parkland-steppes, and rugged mountain terrains, is reflected in its distinctive geological and geomorphological character, its pristine nature, and its extraordinary geodiversity and biodiversity. This study presents a roster of geotourism and ecotourism loci for the broader Altai area within a framework of sustainable development. The modelled assessment of the tourism and recreation potential is based upon multi-proxy analyses of GIS, DEM, and cartographic data. It integrates the most appealing natural (biotic and abiotic) site-specific natural features across all physiographic zones within a broad region. The most significant and representative geosites fall within three geographic sectors suitable for geo- and ecotourism. Prospects for travel to these places are enhanced by the presence of numerous prehistoric archaeological sites and historical monuments, which document the rich, multi-ethnic background of Kazakhstan and the ancient Silk Road that traverses it. These geological, environmental and cultural resources, and the regional geoheritage and environmental conservation concepts have been figured into strategies for economic growth of rural Kazakhstan. Visitors travelling to this most appealing region are constrained by climate of pronounced continentality, seasonality, geographic accessibility, the international border-zone regulations and a lack of services of an international standard.

Soil Erosion on Mountain Trails in Eastern Iberian Peninsula

A review on trial erosion shows that soil erosion rates are one to three orders of magnitude higher than the ones recommended as sustainable. This is threatening the sustainable managements of mountain terrains, mainly in the popular hiking paths. The warm temperatures characterize Eastern Spain in winter, which results in visitors from northern Europe to walk in the coastal land mountainous terrain. This increases the pressure to the currently highly visited most popular paths. We selected representative transects of the trails of Serra de Bérnia, Puigcampana, Penyagolosa, Montcabré, Serra del Sit, Aitana, Les Tres Creus, Caroig, Cupurutxo and Circ de la Safor. All the selected study sites have Limestone parent material, and a scrubland as vegetation cover and the selected slope angle ranged in average between 5 and 10%. The surveys showed that soil erosion rates measured with a topographical method range from 13 till 450 Mg ha−1 y−1. There is a clear relation between the number of users and the damage done on the trails; and we found that short cuts are the areas that contribute with fresh sediment. Rock outcrops are found in 34% of the measured trail sections and this is a good example how the complete soil can be lost as a consequence of recreational activities.

Rainfall thresholds for shallow landslides based on physical models: application in a sub-basin of the Valle de Aburrá (Colombia)•

An analysis of the rainfall conditions and the influence of the infiltration processes on the slope stability are important in tropical mountain terrains due to the wide occurrence of rainfall-induced landslides. Distributed physical-based models can be coupled with techniques that relate the factor of safety with rainfall thresholds associated with the occurrence of this phenomenon. This study presents a methodology that determines the thresholds of rainfall intensity and duration, for the prediction of shallow landslides, using a distributed physical model called TRIGRS. In the analysis, it is used a percentage of the critical area of failure defined for a study area. The conditions of mean intensity and duration of rain that induce this failing area to be reached are adjusted to a potential equation, within certain ranges of duration and intensity. The model is used in a sub-basin of the Valle de Aburrá (Colombia) and the results are compared with rainfall thresholds defined with another distributed physical model. The obtained results reaffirm that the conditions of rainfall intensity and duration that trigger landslides in a region exhibit scaling properties determined by relationships of potential equations, like those obtained by other researchers in different places of the world.

Valuing Cultural Services of the Kailash Sacred Landscape for Sustainable Management

Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to many cultural and religious sites. The literature on the valuation of cultural sites in the mountain terrains is thin. Hence, their development and sustainability are often ignored. Using primary survey data from three different sites in the Kailash Sacred Landscape of India and Nepal, the cultural value of religious sites to the visitors and households living in the surrounding areas was estimated using a modified travel cost method. As visitors travel by foot and offer donations at the religious sites, the estimations account for these aspects in travel cost calculations. For the sample sites, the per year average use value of cultural services was estimated to be USD 2.9 million. Excluding the use value to the outside visitors, the annual estimated use value of cultural services to the approximately 200,000 households of the entire KSL area, which covers 31,252 km2, is over USD 22.6 million, which is over 7% and 15% of the per capita income of Indian and Nepali households, respectively, indicating the importance of the natural-cultural environments in rural livelihoods. The estimated values will help planners manage these cultural sites sustainably for improving the livelihoods of the people living in the area.

A Data Transfer Integrate System by Using Single Camera

there is a novel data transfer integration system by using single image proposed in this paper. There are many sensors use to monitoring the landslide occurred or not, but the monitoring results have different transmit protocol such as: Wi-Fi, transmit line, 2.4 GHz and ZigBee. This system is a data transfer integration system for all sensors, and it can achieve a real time monitoring system. The system integrate many sensor signals to microprocessor, and convert analog signal to digital signal by using A/D converter, i2c and UART, and the measuring results of sensors and display on a 8*8 matrix LED board. The system use the existing landslide-monitoring camera, and the matrix LED board install in the monitoring area. The result of sensors can be transmit to monitoring center by using single image, the data will not affect by environment, weather and mountain terrains.

Analysis of Brake Failure and Runaway Accidents in Mountain Terrain in Canada

A number of serious rail runaway accidents have occurred in recent years on long and high grade downhill tracks in mountain terrains in Canada, causing fatal injuries and huge property loss. They were caused by brake failure, misunderstanding of brake features, maintenance deficiency and/or improper brake application on the trains. Train dynamics simulation, brake ratio testing, and dynamometer testing on friction heat fade helped disclose the causes and contributing factors in the cases presented in this paper. Guidelines were revised for safer train operation, equipment requirements and maintenance practice in the mountain terrain conditions.