Challenge 9: Landslide Monitoring in Heavily Treed Terrain
Monitoring terrain shift beneath forest canopy is no easy task—but it’s critical when lives and homes are at stake. Rekon deployed drone LiDAR to detect slope movement near residential areas, giving the client 18 months of data-backed peace of mind and proactive risk management.
The Problem
Recent earthworks operations at the resort had altered hillside drainage, triggering a washout and threatening a potential landslide above four residential properties. The client needed to detect even minor changes in slope movement over time to prevent a catastrophic event involving loss of life and property.
The Rekon Solution
We implemented drone-based LiDAR with precise survey control to track terrain shifts beneath the forest canopy. By establishing a long-term monitoring benchmark and executing multiple high-resolution surveys, we helped the client assess slope movement with clarity and confidence—reducing risk and liability.
Understanding the Site First
With dense trees and thick vegetation, photogrammetry alone couldn’t deliver reliable ground surface data. LiDAR was chosen as the primary tool, allowing accurate slope models and long-term comparison. We also installed a permanent survey monument to ensure each survey aligned to a consistent baseline.
Accurate, Repeatable Data Capture
Installed survey monument and ground control network
Conducted drone LiDAR flights with tight grid and high overlap
Captured photogrammetry for visual orthomosaics
Ensured every dataset could be compared over time for precise change detection
Deliverables That Monitored Risk
Raw LiDAR and photogrammetry: LAZ, DEM, DSM, contours, orthophotos
Online viewer access via Propeller for easy interpretation
Change Detection Report comparing topography over time
Zoom walkthroughs to interpret findings with the client’s team
The Long-Term Impact
[✓] Confirmed that slope was actively shifting
[✓] Enabled 18 months of safe, proactive monitoring
[✓] Protected nearby homes from potential landslide risk
[✓] Averted millions in potential property damage and litigation
Rekon Let’s You Map Smarter
From forests to highways, our drone and LiDAR solutions deliver accuracy, speed, and peace of mind.Let’s talk about your project Now.