Automated dock-based UAV systems for geohazard monitoring in mountainous terrain

Abstract

Abstract. This study presents the first systematic field evaluation of dock-based UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle) systems for geohazard monitoring in mountainous terrain. We assess their potential to provide reliable, high-frequency, and automated monitoring of surface changes across three different hazard scenarios: (1) a fast-moving glacier icefall (Supphellebreen, Norway), (2) an unstable rock slope (Skjøld, Norway), and (3) a post-failure landscape resulting from a catastrophic rock-ice avalanche (Blatten, Switzerland). Effective hazard management requires timely detection of displacement patterns and terrain change. To address these issues, we introduce an automated workflow integrating multitemporal UAV dock data acquisition with an end-to-end processing pipeline for displacement field generation and change detection. The results show that this workflow has the potential to provide data at centimetre-level accuracy before, during, and after hazard events, supporting both precautionary risk assessments and timely decision-making in critical phases of potential hazard evolution. Wider adoption will depend on supportive regulatory frameworks, reliable power and communication infrastructure, and sufficient expertise to ensure effective operation, maintenance, data interpretation and risk management. Overall, dock-based UAV systems represent a significant technological advancement in efficient geohazard monitoring, facilitating rapid response in critical situations, thereby contributing to increased resilience of communities living in vulnerable mountain environments.