A multidisciplinary approach to landslide structure characterization: integration of seismic tomography survey and high resolution LiDar data with the Sloping Local Base Level method.

Abstract : A challenge to progress in the understanding of landslides is to precisely define their 3D geometry and structure as an input for volume estimation and further hydro-mechanical modelling. The objective of this work is to present a multidisciplinary approach to the geometrical modelling of the La Valette landslide by integrating seismic tomography survey (P and S wave) and high resolution LiDar data with the Sloping Local Base Level (SLBL) method. The La Valette landslide, triggered in March 1982, is one of the most important slope instability in the South French Alps. Its dimensions are 1380 m length and 290 m width, and the total volume is estimated at 3.5 106 m3. Since 2002, an important activity of the upper part of the landslide is observed, and consisted mainly in the retrogression of the crown through the opening of an important fracture over several meters and rotational slumps. The failed mass is currently loading the upper part of the mudslide and is a potential threat for the 170 residential communities.