UAV Survey of the D8 Highway Landslide in Northern Czech Republic
In late May 2014, Czech unmanned aerial systems company UPVISION carried out a detailed UAV survey of a major landslide affecting Highway D8 near Litomerice in northern Czech Republic. At the time of the collapse, the highway segment was still under construction. The aerial mapping campaign formed part of a broader geological investigation intended to evaluate slope stability and define long-term mitigation strategies.
Data derived from the UAV mapping effort were integrated into the geological assessment. Engineers are using these findings to determine how best to remove displaced material and prevent further slope failures. Among the options under evaluation is the construction of a tunnel as an alternative engineering solution.
Background of the Landslide Event
The slope failure occurred on June 7, 2013, following intense rainfall in the village of Litochovice, located near Litoměřice. Highway D8 is a critical transportation corridor connecting Prague with northwestern Czech urban centers and extending toward Saxony in Germany. Daily traffic volume exceeds 10,000 vehicles, including substantial freight movement through Ústí nad Labem and Teplice.
The landslide developed in undulating terrain along the highway corridor. The affected slope extended from a quarry at the hilltop downward toward the Elbe River. Measuring approximately 500 meters in length and 200 meters in width, the mass movement destroyed existing topography, uprooted vegetation, damaged operational railway tracks, and buried the partially constructed highway infrastructure.
UAV-Based Mapping and Data Acquisition
To document and analyze the site, UPVISION deployed a hexacopter unmanned aerial vehicle over an area covering roughly 2 square kilometers. In addition to systematic aerial photography, the UAV captured video footage of both the landslide zone and the adjacent quarry.
From the collected imagery, several high-value geospatial products were generated:
- An orthophoto map with 7-centimeter-per-pixel resolution referenced in the local coordinate system
- A digital surface model derived from dense point cloud processing
- A detailed 3D terrain model for full-area visualization
These outputs provide more than visual documentation. The datasets support technical workflows such as vectorization for digital cartography, volumetric calculations to estimate displaced material, terrain cross-section analysis, and high-definition point cloud evaluation. The products also serve as foundational layers for geological survey interpretation and engineering design.
Efficiency and Operational Advantages
One of the defining strengths of UAV-based mapping lies in operational speed. A single flight conducted directly above the impacted zone can capture all necessary data, with field operations completed in approximately one hour. This rapid deployment capability makes UAV systems particularly effective for time-sensitive post-disaster assessment.
The resulting data can be used for multiple purposes, including engineering documentation, progress monitoring, technical reporting, and visual communication with stakeholders. Furthermore, online video streaming enabled immediate visualization of terrain conditions shortly after the slope collapse.
UAV Technology as a Modern Survey Tool
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles for landslide mapping demonstrates the efficiency of contemporary aerial survey technology. By combining high-resolution imaging, photogrammetric processing, and 3D modeling, UAV systems deliver comprehensive datasets with minimal field time. For infrastructure projects such as Highway D8, these capabilities are instrumental in guiding remediation decisions and ensuring long-term slope stability.
