Relict landslide detection using Deep-Learning architectures for image segmentation in rainforest areas: A new framework

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new CNN-based framework for semi-automatic detection of relict landslides in rainforest areas, addressing the challenges of complex vegetation cover and improving detection accuracy using a novel dataset generation and pre-training approach.

Contribution

A novel CNN framework utilizing k-means clustering for dataset generation and pre-training, tailored for relict landslide detection in rainforest environments.

Findings

Recall exceeds 75% across all tested CNN combinations.

Precision remains low (<20%) due to false positives.

Proposed framework improves landslide detection accuracy.

Abstract

Landslides are destructive and recurrent natural disasters on steep slopes and represent a risk to lives and properties. Knowledge of relict landslides location is vital to understand their mechanisms, update inventory maps and improve risk assessment. However, relict landslide mapping is complex in tropical regions covered with rainforest vegetation. A new CNN framework is proposed for semi-automatic detection of relict landslides, which uses a dataset generated by a k-means clustering algorithm and has a pre-training step. The weights computed in the pre-training are used to fine-tune the CNN training process. A comparison between the proposed and the standard framework is performed using CBERS-04A WPM images. Three CNNs for semantic segmentation are used (Unet, FPN, Linknet) with two augmented datasets. A total of 42 combinations of CNNs are tested. Values of precision and recall were very similar between the combinations tested. Recall was higher than 75% for every combination, but precision values were usually smaller than 20%. False positives (FP) samples were addressed as the cause for these low precision values. Predictions of the proposed framework were more accurate and correctly detected more landslides. This work demonstrates that there are limitations for detecting relict landslides in areas covered with rainforest, mainly related to similarities between the spectral response of pastures and deforested areas with Gleichenella sp. ferns, commonly used as an indicator of landslide scars.