A Supervised Classification Method for Levee Slide Detection Using Complex Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery

Ramakalavathi Marapareddy,Nicolas Younan,James Aanstoos

doi:10.3390/jimaging2030026

Abstract

The dynamics of surface and sub-surface water events can lead to slope instability, resulting in anomalies such as slough slides on earthen levees. Early detection of these anomalies by a remote sensing approach could save time versus direct assessment. We have implemented a supervised Mahalanobis distance classification algorithm for the detection of slough slides on levees using complex polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (polSAR) data. The classifier output was followed by a spatial majority filter post-processing step that improved the accuracy. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated using fully quad-polarimetric L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL’s) Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). The study area is a section of the lower Mississippi River valley in the southern USA. Slide detection accuracy of up to 98 percent was achieved, although the number of available slides examples was small.

Highlights

Earthen levees protect large areas of populated and cultivated land in the United States from flooding
One type of problem that occurs along these levees, which can lead to complete failure during a high water event if left unrepaired for too long, is a slough slide [1]
The type of vegetation that grows in a slide area differs from the surrounding levee vegetation, which can be used in detecting slides [3]

Summary

Introduction

Earthen levees protect large areas of populated and cultivated land in the United States from flooding. The potential loss of life and property associated with the catastrophic failure of levees can be extremely large. One type of problem that occurs along these levees, which can lead to complete failure during a high water event if left unrepaired for too long, is a slough slide [1]. Slough slides are slope failures along a levee, which leave areas of the levee vulnerable to seepage and failure during high water events [2]. The type of vegetation that grows in a slide area differs from the surrounding levee vegetation, which can be used in detecting slides [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion