UAV-Based Mapping of Landslides

At the end of May 2014, UPVISION, a Czech unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and mapping company, conducted a detailed UAV survey of a landslide on Highway D8, which was under construction near the city of Litoměřice in the northern part of the Czech Republic. UPVISION’s president, Jakub Karas, explained the importance of the mission and the advantages of using a hexacopter UAV for rapid terrain assessment.

The UAV survey was carried out in support of a geological investigation of Highway D8, which had been affected by a major landslide. Engineers used the results derived from UAV mapping to evaluate options for safely removing landslide debris and preventing future slope failures. Alternative infrastructure solutions, including the construction of a tunnel, were also considered.

The Landslide Area

The landslide occurred on June 7, 2013, after heavy rainfall in the village of Litochovice near Litoměřice. The event buried a significant section of Highway D8, a critical transportation corridor connecting Prague with northwestern Czech urban areas and Saxony in Germany.

Traffic on this route typically exceeds 10,000 vehicles per day. The landslide took place in hilly terrain between a quarry located at the top of the slope and the River Elbe below. Measuring approximately 500 by 200 meters, the landslide destroyed existing terrain, vegetation, active railway tracks, and the highway structure itself.

Mapping the Area with UAVs

UPVISION deployed its custom-designed hexacopter UAV to map the affected area, covering approximately 2 square kilometers. In addition to high-resolution aerial imagery, video footage of the landslide and surrounding quarry was captured.

From a single UAV mission, several advanced data products were generated:

• An orthophoto map with a resolution of 7 cm per pixel in the local geographic coordinate system
• A digital surface model (DSM) derived from dense point clouds
• A 3D terrain model for comprehensive visualization of the landslide area

These datasets support a wide range of technical applications, including vectorization for digital map creation, calculation of landslide volume, terrain profiling, and high-definition point cloud analysis. They also serve as a critical foundation for ongoing geological assessments.

All required data were collected in a single, short UAV flight. The UAV was launched directly over the target area, and field operations were completed within one hour, highlighting the efficiency and speed of UAV-based mapping.

In addition to mapping outputs, UPVISION provided online video streaming that captured the extent of the terrain immediately following the landslide. This capability allowed stakeholders to quickly assess the situation remotely.

UAV mapping proved to be a highly effective tool for rapid acquisition of complex spatial data. The outputs support not only visualization and documentation but also engineering analysis and decision-making related to infrastructure repair and hazard mitigation.