Rapid landslide mapping using multi-temporal image composites from sentinel-1 and sentinel-2 imagery through google earth engine

Landslides are a significant geohazard with global implications, causing fatalities, infrastructure damage, and economic consequences. Cyprus, located over the Mediterranean fault zone in the Eastern Mediterranean region, experiences active landslides and slope instabilities due to its unique geodynamic regime and seismic activity. Monitoring ground displacements caused by landslides is crucial for early detection and response and can be performed using many techniques like ground-based or satellite-based geodetic, photogrammetric, and Earth Observation (EO)based techniques. The study focuses on utilizing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to rapidly map landslides in the Paphos District of Cyprus. Multitemporal SAR change detection using Sentinel-1 images and spectral indices from Sentinel-2 data were employed. The results were validated using high-resolution images from Google Earth and data from the Geological Survey Department. The study successfully identified landslide areas, confirmed by ground truthing, and provided insights into the timing of landslide occurrences.