Surface reconstruction and landslide displacement measurements with Pléiades satellite images

Recent advances in image-matching techniques and VHR satellite imaging at submeter resolution theoretically offer the possibility to measure Earth surface displacements with decimetric precision. However, this possibility has yet not been explored and requirements of ground control and external topographic datasets are considered as important bottlenecks that hinder a more common application of optical image correlation for displacement measurements. This article describes an approach combining spaceborne stereo-photogrammetry, orthorectification and sub-pixel image correlation to measure the horizontal surface displacement of landslides from Pléiades satellite images. The influence of the number of ground-control points on the accuracy of the image orientation, the extracted surface models and the estimated displacement rates is quantified through comparisons with airborne laser scan and in situ global navigation satellite measurements at permanent stations. The comparison shows a maximum error of 0.13 m which is one order of magnitude more accurate than what has been previously reported with spaceborne optical images from other sensors. The obtained results indicate that the approach can be applied without significant loss in accuracy when no ground control points are available. It could, therefore, greatly facilitate displacement measurements for a broad range of applications.