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Application of spatial prediction techniques to defining three-dimensional landslide shear surface geometry

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Abstract

This study explores the application of interpolating and non-interpolating spatial prediction algorithms to interpreting shear surface geometries. A number of spatial prediction techniques have been tested, and the most appropriate algorithms for the Downie Slide dataset have been selected based on the root mean squared error (RMSE) determined from cross-validation. Visual assessment of reasonable spatial patterns has allowed for final selection of algorithms that produce geologically realistic results. Through this process, the performance of a number of interpolation algorithms has been tested in terms of accuracy and the development of reasonable spatial patterns. The goal of this study has been: (a) to develop a methodology for interpolating three-dimensional shear surface geometries and (b) to assess which interpolation methods are most appropriate for the interpretation of the Downie Slide basal slip surface geometry, based quantitatively on RMSE and qualitatively on the geological “trueness” of the geometric output.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been conducted under the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), GEOmatics for Informed DEcisions (GEOIDE), and the Provincial Research Excellence Award Program (PREA). The authors would like to thank BC Hydro personnel, in particular John Psutka and Martin Lawrence for provision of the case history data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University Kingston, Miller Hall, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Katherine S. Kalenchuk, Douglas J. Hutchinson & Mark S. Diederichs

Authors
  1. Katherine S. Kalenchuk
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  2. Douglas J. Hutchinson
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  3. Mark S. Diederichs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine S. Kalenchuk.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

This appendix includes Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 illustrating continuous shear surface geometries for all spatial prediction algorithms (excluding those illustrated in Fig. 7).

Fig. 8
figure 8

Continuous geometries (looking northwest) interpreted using the minimum curvature algorithm with varying internal and boundary tensions and universal kriging

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Fig. 9
figure 9

Continuous geometries (looking northwest) interpreted using radial basis functions and a moving average algorithm

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Fig. 10
figure 10

Continuous geometries (looking northwest) interpreted using inverse distance to a power functions and linear triangulation

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Fig. 11
figure 11

Continuous geometries (looking northwest) interpreted using low-order polynomials, a natural neighbor algorithm and a nearest neighbor algorithm

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Kalenchuk, K.S., Hutchinson, D.J. & Diederichs, M.S. Application of spatial prediction techniques to defining three-dimensional landslide shear surface geometry. Landslides 6, 321–333 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-009-0168-1

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