Analyzing the evolution of the Tessina landslide using aerial photographs and digital elevation models

Evolution of the Tessina landslide near Belluno, Italy, from 1954 to the present situation has been documented using multitemporal landslide maps. The maps were produced through the interpretation of sequential aerial photographs and direct field-mapping of the landslide in 1998 and 1999. The interpretations were converted to large-scale multitemporal topographical maps and digitized, resulting in detailed geomorphological maps of the Tessina landslide for the following periods: 1954, 1961, 1969, 1980, 1991, 1993, 1998 and 1999. A quantitative volumetric analysis was also carried out using a series of digital elevation models derived from the available 1:5000 scale digital contour maps with 5-m contour interval for 1948, 1964, 1980, 1991 and 1993. The total volume of material removed and accumulated was calculated for the entire Tessina landslide for the different time steps available. Results indicate that the Tessina landslide existed prior to its main reactivation in 1960, after which the landslide reduced in activity. From 1991, however, very large reactivations have taken place, and the landslide continues to be active. Although the landslide has reached the lateral boundaries of the old pre-1960 landslide, it is now expanding upslope where it may still mobilize large amounts of material. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.