Near-Real-time Monitoring of Landslide Deformation and Inducing Hydrologic Factors in Three Gorges Reservoir

Abstract

To further improve landslide deformation prediction accuracy in Three Gorges reservoir, near-real-time monitoring systems were built in the subsequent phase of Three Gorges Project to substitute early manual monitoring. Shuping landslide, a typical reservoir type slide, is taken as an example; the near-real-time monitoring system that includes field continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, communication infrastructure, and control center is described first. Then, based on the near-real-time monitoring data from June 20, 2012, to June 30, 2013, the spatial and temporal moving patterns are analyzed. Finally, by comparing the displacements to reservoir water fluctuation and rainfall, the conclusion is that landslide deformation is mainly triggered by the fast reservoir water level fall, and rainfall has a secondary influence. The results indicate that near-real-time monitoring can greatly improve the precision of understanding landslide behavior and the relation between movement and inducing hydrologic factors, which would be critical to protecting lives and property.