Monitoring and Data Analysis in Small-Scale Landslide Physical Model: An overview

This study presents an overview of the methods and monitoring equipment used in the physical models of a sandy slope exposed to artificial rainfall. Landslide development was monitored by observation of volumetric water content and acceleration as well as by observations of surface displacement by means of high-speed stereo cameras, terrestrial laser scanning, and structure-from-motion photogrammetry. The rainfall threshold for landslide initiation was determined using physical models used to simulate landslide initiation and motion driven by rainwater infiltration. The main purpose of the landslide physical modeling in the last 25 years was research of initiation, motion, and accumulation of fast flow-like landslides caused by infiltration of water in a slope. In October 2018, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering University of Rijeka, started a four-year research project “Physical modeling of landslide remediation constructions’ behavior under static and seismic actions” funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Some of the preliminary results of the initial series of experiments are presented, and advantages and disadvantages of the used equipment are discussed. The test results contribute to the improvement of the monitoring system and selected measuring equipment both in future tests of the project as well as similar type of research in small-scale physical modeling.