GPS World

Tag: landslides

  • Divirod, OKI completes advanced GNSS-R terrain monitoring project in Fukuoka Prefecture

    Divirod, OKI completes advanced GNSS-R terrain monitoring project in Fukuoka Prefecture

    Divirod and Oki Electric Industry (OKI) have completed a project to monitor landslide risk and slope stability across vulnerable areas in the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan. The project deployed Divirod’s next-generation ground deformation and anomaly-detection technology to provide continuous, high-resolution monitoring of mountainous terrain prone to extreme rainfall and seismic activity.

    The initiative supports Japan’s broader effort to enhance early-warning capabilities and strengthen climate resilience following recent years of severe rainfall disasters and complex terrain-related hazards.

    Monitoring with GNSS-R technology

    For the project, Divirod designed a system comprised of GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) sensors and intelligent algorithms and deployed it across three areas of interest collecting continuous, all-weather measurements throughout the monitoring period. Divirod’s proprietary algorithms examined daily GNSS-R measurements to detect even subtle changes in the ground surface.

    Divirod’s system successfully classified the observed terrain changes into three key physical categories:

    • Slope failure events,
    • Creep/slow-moving landslides, and
    • Temporary terrain changes (often linked to rainfall or ground moisture variations).

    Hundreds of terrain changes were detected across the monitored regions and correlated with rainfall measurements and earthquake events. The results enabled detailed risk mapping and precise identification of active zones.

    The technology proved highly sensitive in differentiating short-lived disturbances from long-term geomorphological changes — an essential capability for early intervention and warnings.

    Documented landslide at Hakikoga

    A significant project highlight was successful detection of a real landslide event in August. While comparison images taken on Aug. 10 and 11 revealed visible changes in the slope during daylight hours, Divirod’s terrain change maps show that the slope movement itself occurred overnight, a time when on-site cameras were unable to observe the event due to darkness.

    Despite the lack of visual evidence, Divirod’s GNSS-R sensors registered a distinct spike in ground-movement, accurately detecting the terrain shift and providing clear evidence of a nocturnal landslide that could have otherwise gone unnoticed.

    Strengthening the disaster-preparedness ecosystem

    Divirod’s collaboration with OKI represents a significant advancement in real-time terrain intelligence for Japan, a region characterized by frequent typhoons, intense rainfall and high seismicity. The successful deployment in the Fukuoka Prefecture presents new opportunities for:

    • scalable early-warning systems,
    • automated landslide risk modeling,
    • and the integration of GNSS-R sensing with existing monitoring infrastructure.
  • Teren kicks off nationwide lidar content library program

    Teren kicks off nationwide lidar content library program

    Image: Teren
    Image: Teren

    Teren, a climate resilience analytics company, has expanded its Premium 4D Content program for regions across the United States, including the Gulf Coast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains and West Coast.

    Teren acquires and quickly processes high-fidelity lidar data, making it available via its content library, and delivers analytics with actionable insights to energy and engineering firms.

    “Climate change is causing drought, flooding, landslides and wildfires across the country – significantly impacting asset owners and project developers. As a result, the market demand for high-fidelity, temporal data to identify, prioritize, and monitor climate-related risk is higher than ever,” said Toby Kraft, Teren CEO.

    Teren is amassing a content library of remotely-sensed 3D (spatial) data across the United States. That data is updated on regular intervals to monitor changes over time providing a unique 4D (temporal) view. This 4D data library feeds analytics that identify risk, inform mitigation, and strengthen asset resilience. While remotely-sensed data has traditionally been sourced on a project-by-project basis, Teren offers its data and analytics as a subscription service. This model drives down the costs for clients and stakeholders, helping to maximize the speed of delivery, return on investment, and data value.

    “In our flagship content region, Appalachia, our customers tap into our 4D content library to identify and monitor the terrain and surface conditions surrounding their assets — primarily aiming to identify and mitigate landslides before they become catastrophic incidents,” Kraft said. “We’re expanding the program nationwide to meet the growing demand for terrain monitoring and climate resilience analytics around events such as erosion, flooding, wildfires and more.”

    Teren’s solution saved clients in Appalachia an estimated $152 million annually, preventing 24 failures per year due to landslides. While landslides are not as pervasive across the United States, companies can apply the data and analytics suite for the following:

    • Gulf Coast: inundation, subsidence, land movement
    • Midwest: erosion, flooding, subsidence
    • Rock Mountains: landslides, flooding, wildfire
    • West Coast: wildfires, land movement, flooding.

    Traditionally used by the energy sector, Teren’s data has also proven to be highly valuable to state and federal agencies, insurers and civil engineers. Teren expects to see increased variability across clients and use cases as the content region expands.

    To learn more about Teren or to request a demo, visit www.teren4d.com.