Using LiDAR and InSAR for Geohazard Mapping and Management

Alycia DiTroia and Cole Jensen discuss how operators identify, monitor, and prioritize geohazards across thousands of miles of pipeline.

Meet Alycia and Cole at the 2026 International Pipeline Conference and Expo (IPCE) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on September 21 through 25.

Identifying and Prioritizing Pipeline Geohazards

To manage thousands of miles of pipeline, operators need to identify and prioritize geohazards efficiently. Geosyntec practitioners Alycia and Cole help clients evaluate hazards, assess risk, and focus resources where they are needed most.

"Pipeline operators need to know where potential problems are and whether they should be addressed now or monitored. They also need to understand the level of effort that it will take to address potential problems," says Cole.

With such a large pipeline network to monitor, Cole and Alycia use LiDAR and InSAR to track geohazards along pipeline corridors.

LiDAR and InSAR: Complementary Tools for Geohazard Monitoring

"LiDAR is the gold standard for regional desktop-based assessments and remote landslide monitoring and usually the first assessment we do for our clients to identify geohazards," says Cole.

Using bursts of light aimed at the ground, LiDAR models the terrain from a drone or airplane, creating numerous data points that are stitched together to create a terrain model. Using this initial data and then subsequent LiDAR runs over time, practitioners can track changes to the landscape.

InSAR is useful to get recent images of a specific location and is primarily used for monitoring.

"With InSAR, we collect images from satellites and overlay a stack of them together. Since those images are captured far more frequently than LiDAR data, we can monitor sites at a higher frequency and use the images to extrapolate movement rates and displacement of large landslides," says Alycia.

Both Cole and Alycia note that each tool has limitations. With LiDAR, obstructions between the sensor and the ground can alter the amount and quality of data collected. Environmental factors like trees and brush can obstruct the data LiDAR can capture. In areas with dense tree canopies, for example, data quality during leaf-on season can be compromised. As a result, practitioners consult with clients to choose the right time for LiDAR collection.

Depending on project goals, practitioners might recommend supplementing LiDAR and InSAR assessments with other types of data and targeted fieldwork to complete the terrain picture and refine understanding of geohazards such as landslides.

"It's a balance between data quality and project timeline," says Cole. "Early in a project, we want to know what the goals are. Is this a baseline assessment or a differencing analysis? Is the goal to track specific localized hazards in detail or for widespread general identification? Is the project for an existing pipeline in a maintained right-of-way, or is it to support construction of an entirely new pipeline corridor?"

Alycia adds, "With InSAR, the plus side is that it's easier to get data on demand. However, the smaller the landslide, the less likely the data will have the information we need. InSAR also has limitations based on where the landslide is. If a slope faces away from a satellite camera, it may not capture the full extent of ground movement. However, it is a good tool for supplemental monitoring of high-priority hazards with known issues."

Thousands of Miles of Pipelines, Millions of Data Points

With tens of thousands of miles of pipelines to monitor, the amount of data collected is staggering and often unwieldy. Management of that monitoring data is one of the main reasons clients consult us. "There could be data from 5,000 miles of pipeline. That's basically a library's worth of data that has to be organized, tracked, and regularly updated," says Alycia.

"Interpreting LiDAR and InSAR data is a trained skill and one that takes a bit of time to master. Context is a big part of interpreting data, and field experience can help geologists refine their ability to make determinations from LiDAR and InSAR data," adds Alycia.

She notes that while practitioners can look for specific signatures of landslides, they also need to be aware of more subtle signs that indicate a landslide's activity, severity, and possible dormancy. Being familiar with the terrain of a project, the different landslides possible there, and the subtle changes in the landscape helps practitioners interpret the data.

Cole adds, "The practitioner's ability to understand the data they are reviewing, the terrain they are working in, and the history of the project area can be the difference between identifying a hazard before it escalates and experiencing a pipeline leak or rupture resulting from an overlooked hazard."

About our Geohazards Practitioners at IPCE

Alycia DiTroia is a Geologist based in New Hampshire. She focuses on pipeline geohazard assessment, with a specialization in landslides, including fieldwork and desktop monitoring. Alycia will present "Evaluating the Applicability and Limitations of InSAR for Landslide Monitoring Along Pipeline Corridors in the Western US and Appalachia" at IPCE on Friday, September 25.

Cole Jensen is a Geologist based in Washington. He focuses on pipeline geohazard assessment, including fieldwork and database management. Cole will present "Comparative Analysis of Leaf-On vs. Leaf-off LiDAR Data Quality for Landslide Detection in Pipeline Corridors" at IPCE on Friday, September 25.