National airborne LiDAR mapping and examples for applications in deep-seated landslides in Taiwan

For the purposes of geohazard study, a national airborne LiDAR mapping program spanning 2010 to 2015 was launched with the aim of simultaneously capturing the territory (36,000km2) by airborne LiDAR and digital imagery. The results include very detailed digital elevation models (DEM) and digital surface models (DSM) of 1m grid and digital aerial photograph of 50 cm grid, as well as an inventory of the geological disastrous features with the acquired LiDAR data and images. In total, 400 deep-seated landslides are obtained in a preliminary interpretation. In this paper, an example in Chasan Tribal Settlement of the large-scaled landslides is selected for validation to further inspected with other geological investigation means. The results of this paper demonstrate the merit of the national airborne LiDAR survey and the effectiveness of simple manual interpretation approach for a census of deep-seated landslides with LiDAR-derived images of various types of enhancement such as shaded relief.