Identification and Assessment of Geological Hazards in Highly Vegetated Areas Based on Multi-Source Radar Remote Sensing Data: Supporting Sustainable Disaster Risk Management

Mengmeng Liu, Wendong Li (), Yu Ye (), Xia Li, Wei Wei and Cunlin Xin
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Mengmeng Liu: No.3 Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Gansu Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Lanzhou 730050, China
Wendong Li: No.3 Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Gansu Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Lanzhou 730050, China
Yu Ye: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Xia Li: Gansu Geomatic Information Center, Lanzhou 730000, China
Wei Wei: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Cunlin Xin: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-20

Abstract: Xiahe County, in the northwestern Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province, faces recurrent geological hazards—including landslides and debris flows. Geological hazards in highly vegetated regions pose severe threats to ecological balance, human settlements, and socio-economic sustainability, hindering the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Due to the significant topographic relief and high vegetation coverage in this region, traditional manual ground-based surveys face substantial challenges in the investigation and identification of geological hazards, necessitating the adoption of advanced monitoring and identification techniques. This study employs a comprehensive approach integrating optical remote sensing, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry to investigate and identify geological hazards in the eastern part of Xiahe County, exploring the application capabilities and effectiveness of multisource remote sensing techniques in hazard identification. The results indicate that this study has shortened the time required for on-site investigations by improving the efficiency of disaster identification while also providing comprehensive, multi-angle, and high-precision remote sensing outcomes. These achievements offer robust support for sustainable disaster management and land use planning in ecologically fragile regions. Optical remote sensing, InSAR, and UAV photogrammetry each possess unique advantages and application scopes, but single-technique approaches are insufficient to fully address potential hazard identification. Developing a comprehensive investigation and identification framework that integrates and complements the strengths of multisource technologies has proven to be an effective pathway for the rapid investigation, identification, and evaluation of geological hazards. These results contribute to regional sustainability by enabling targeted risk mitigation, minimizing disaster-induced ecological and economic losses, and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities.

Keywords: geological hazards; radar remote sensing; highly vegetated area; regional sustainability; disaster risk reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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