Civil Engineering and Architecture 7(6A): 1-6, 2019 http://www.hrpub.org
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2019.071401
Monitoring Slope Condition Using UAV Technology
Norhayati Ngadiman
*
, Ibrahim Adham Badrulhissham, Mazlan Mohamad, Nurazira Azhari,
Masiri Kaamin, Nor Baizura Hamid
Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Diploma Studies (CeDS), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Malaysia
Received July 30, 2019; Revised September 30, 2019; Accepted December 10, 2019
Copyright©2019 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License
Abstract Slope failure is a serious geologic hazard in
many countries in the world including Malaysia. In order to
prevent slope failure, the hazardous symptoms can be
detected early in slope monitoring process. Nowadays,
slope failure symptoms monitoring has been done by
human by on site observation at the slope spot and it is
dangerous for the human safety. Furthermore, it takes
longer time to complete the investigation and some of the
data collected are inaccurate because human view is
limited. Therefore, this project is to evaluate the
performances of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to
monitor the slope condition. A slope at Taman Harmoni
Vista at Pagoh, Johor has been selected as a study area. The
measurement of slope studied was 150 meters in length and
20 meters in height respectively. The aim of this project is
to evaluate the performances of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) to monitor the risk slope. Visual image of 3D
modelling was obtained from Pix4D Mapper and Global
Mapper software was used to analyze the slope failure
symptoms. There are defects that have been identified from
3D modelling of the slope which is tension crack on slope
and surface crack on the drainage. The use of UAV is an
alternative method to obtain quality picture and 3D model
for inspection of the slope. This method expected to
facilitate the work of inspection slopes in addition to saving
time, energy and cost as well asreducing the risk of harm.
Keywords Slope Failure, Slope Monitoring,
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
1. Introduction
Landslides are usually found in the form of slope failure
in a man-made slope, especially the slopes involved with
cut and fill activities which often occur along highway area,
residential area and urban area [1]. Slope falls, slope
topples, landslides, flows and spreads of slope are types of
slope failure [2]. Slope failures occur in many forms and
there is a wide range in their predictability, rapidity of
occurrence and movement, and ground area affected, all of
which relate directly to the consequences of failure [3].
There are several types of slope failures that can occur
when the shear resistance along the slip plane is exceeded.
Slope falls, slope topples, landslides, flows and spreads of
slope are the types of slope failure. These can be caused by
excessive load imposed at the slope crest or compromised
stability of the slope, and disturbed dimensions of the
slope.
Monitoring of slopes is a crucial method to predict early
sign of slope failure and prevent slope from collapse.
Conducting a quantitative study on the unstable slope area
will be able to detect any movement on the slope.
Therefore, detailed orthophotos are a valuable resource for
mapping and classifying morphological phenomena that
occur at that point [4]. Initial information obtained will
provide preliminary information on the slope and be able to
detect slope stability level prior to the occurrence of slope
failure [5]. Monitoring is an important element of hazard
identification, hazard assessment and hazard information
which can be supported by Geographical Information
Systems (GIS) and related databases. Nowadays, slope
analysis is done by inspector that inspecting and
monitoring will climb up to the top of the slope for the
purpose of taking photographs for inclusion in the work
report [6]. This method needed more time to complete the
observation and the data was collected not too accurately
because the human errors sometimes fail to read the data
correctly.
This study was conducted to determine the extent to
which the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can
assist in the slope monitoring process. The main objectives
of this study are to produce a 3-dimensional model of the
slope to determine defects that occur on the slopes. The
UAV can be controlled by a safe distance from a risky
slope. UAV can be manually or autonomously controlled
[7]. Basically, the monitoring process can be done safely,
quickly and more energy work can be saved by using this
technology. The purpose of this paper was to identify the
CITE THIS PAPER
[1] Norhayati Ngadiman , Ibrahim Adham Badrulhissham , Mazlan Mohamad , Nurazira Azhari , Masiri Kaamin , Nor Baizura
Hamid , "Monitoring Slope Condition Using UAV Technology," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 7, No. 6A, pp. 1 - 6, 2019.
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2019.071401.