Assessment of ASTER satellite images in landslide inventory mapping: Yenice-Gokcebey (Western Black Sea Region, Turkey)

In the last two decades, developments in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing have allowed rapid and detailed analysis of natural hazards. The Western Black Sea region of Turkey is a major landslide prone area. Landslides in a selected area were assessed using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery. Stereoscopic and two-dimensional visual image interpretations were performed at different scales and field studies were carried out such that the landslide inventories could be compared. The study indicated the best approach was stereoscopic image analysis for visual interpretations. The smallest landslide area realistically mapped using the ASTER image was 58,885 m(2). It is considered that ASTER satellite images provide useful information particularly in regional and/ or medium scale landslide inventory studies.