Identification and Characterization of Geological Hazards in a Coal Mining Area Using Remote Sensing

Abstract

Multi-source datasets, including GF-1 remote sensing image, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), basic geographic information, were used to analyze the geological hazards in Liliu coal mining area located in the western Shanxi Province, China. A total of six geological hazards were identified and characterized including collapse, landslide, unstable slope, debris flow, ground subsidence and ground fissure. A combination method with object-oriented and man-machine interactive way was used to identify the geological hazards, and then the results were validated by field survey for obtaining their spatial distribution and incidence features in the study area. The results show that a total of 1096 geological disasters are found, in which the number of unstable slope is 39, landslides is 420, collapse is 316, debris flow is 3, ground subsidence is 212, and ground fissure is 106. Furthermore, the intensity of geological hazards was analyzed and the relationship between geological hazards and landforms was also investigated by the GIS spatial analysis for presenting the harmfulness of disaster points to human lives. The intensity of disaster points are medium and large and they mainly developed in the slope form 5° to 35°, with more distribution in the western and southwestern slopes. The disasters have more influences on the roads and farmlands compared with the rivers.