Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID ND_2023_Laabs

InSAR, Repeat Photography, and GPS to Monitor Landslides in North Dakota

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $3,961 Total Non-Federal Funds: $3,961

Principal Investigators: Benjamin Laabs

Project Summary: Changes in climate and ground water may impact the frequency and severity of landslides in North Dakota. These hazards can endanger infrastructure, such as roads and railways, and can deliver large amounts of sediment to rivers. Landslides occurring on low angle slows are known to begin at a slow rate. If the slow-moving precursor to a landslide can be detected, then the impact of the potential landslides can be addressed before they occur. Satellite radar data, which have been used to detect slow-moving landslides elsewhere, will be applied in locations with recent landslide activity in western North Dakota. This will determine whether landslides begin with slow downslope movements, and if so, what factors triggered the movement. The results of this study will be used to develop and test a landslide prediction model for river bordering hill slopes throughout North Dakota.