Abstract
Abstract. A methodology of magnitude estimates for debris flow events is described using airborne LiDAR data. Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) is a widely used technology to generate digital elevation information. LiDAR data in alpine regions can be obtained by several commercial companies where the automated filtering process is proprietary and varies from companies to companies. This study describes the analysis of geomorphologic changes using digital terrain models derived from commercial LiDAR data. The estimation of the deposition volumes is based on two digital terrain models covering the same area but differing in their time of survey. In this study two surveyed deposition areas of debris flows, located in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, were chosen as test cases. We discuss different grid interpolating techniques, other preliminary work and the accuracy of the used LiDAR data and volume estimates.
Highlights
Mountain catchment areas are frequently exposed to erosion and deposition processes, mainly concentrated at steep stream channels during runoff events
Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) generated terrain models are a suitable tool for the determination of geomorphologic changes
For event documentations it is common to estimate the volumes of transported sediment after debris flow events based on an expert assessment in the field
Summary
Mountain catchment areas are frequently exposed to erosion and deposition processes, mainly concentrated at steep stream channels (torrents) during runoff events. In alpine torrents mostly sediment laden floods and debris flows, triggered by precipitation events, snowmelt or dam-break failures are reasons for overbank sedimentation or debris deposition. If such gravity-driven mass movements occur, they can have devastating consequences on people, infrastructures and landscape. Both fluvial sediment processes and debris flows can occur at the same time within the same catchment area, possibly interacting with each other. Many equations for the estimation of the flow and runout characteristics of debris flows are based on the estimation of the potential volume (e.g. Ikeya, 1989; Iverson et al, 1998; Mizuyama et al, 1992; Rickenmann, 1999; Scheidegger, 1973; Takahashi et al, 1994)
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