NatureScot Research Report 1344 - Use of satellite measures of surface motion to improve the assessment of peat landslide susceptibility

High ranges of vertical surface motion are often associated with the position of likely peatland instability within a landscape, and these are often associated with natural drainage lines.
A high range of vertical surface motion need not imply that failure will occur but does indicate that these areas will be more susceptible to landslide.
The method complements existing techniques by providing a high resolution overview that enables areas of concern to be identified and targeted for detailed geotechnical and field assessment. The method does not remove the need for a proper geotechnical assessment of the area of concern.
Future research could investigate whether extreme value theorem could be applied to determine if it is possible to warn of impending failure.
We recommend that if this method is proved to be effective that it is used as part of a standard protocol for assessing sites prior to restoration and to subsequently monitor post-restoration changes in landslide susceptibility.