Terrestrial laser scanning for applied geoscience studies in the urban environment

This paper will present a series of case study examples of the use of terrestrial laser scanning (LiDAR) techniques for urban landslide detection and delineation. LiDAR is fast becoming an increasingly accessible technology, which has both the portability and accuracy required by the modern day engineering geologist for urban geoscience studies. The level of accuracy in the derived digital terrain models and the ability to overlay digital photography on the DTM enables subtle landslide and slope instability features to be rapidly identified and for subsequent risk management strategies to be implemented. Various examples will be presented for both rock and engineering soil dominated slopes which have a significant potential impact in the urban environments in which they occur. The paper will detail the terrestrial laser scanning technology and will discuss the use and appropriateness of these techniques.