Natural Hazard Assessment and Monitoring in the Black Hills and Adjacent Areas, South Dakota and Wyoming, USA, Using Remote Sensing and GIS-Methods

Abstract

This research considers the support provided by remote sensing and GIS methods for the delineation of potential sites susceptible to natural hazards such as earthquakes, flash floods and karst phenomena in the Black Hills area in South Dakota and Wyoming, USA. By an integration of satellite data (Landsat, Sentinel), evaluations of digital elevation model data (DEM) and DEM derived morphometric maps, meteorological, geophysical and geological data in a GIS database an overview of potentially affected sites could be achieved. The analysis of digital enhanced satellite imageries, digital topographic data and open source geodata contributed to the acquisition of the specific tectonic, geomorphologic / topographic settings influencing local site conditions in the Black Hills area influencing the disposition to geo-hazards. Weighed overlay tools in ArcGIS software helped to identify causal morphometric factors (such as flattest and lowest areas) influencing the susceptibility to flooding in case of flash floods. This tool was used as well to delineate areas susceptible to relatively higher earthquake ground motion due to local site conditions. Visual lineament analysis based on Landsat 8 and Sentinel radar images contributed to the detection of the tectonic / structural pattern influencing the development of karst phenomena (dolines/sinkholes). Dolines were mapped based on Landsat 8 and BingMap Aerial images. Whenever a natural hazard occurs in the Black Hills and surrounding areas it can derived by the analysis of the above mentioned data and derived maps, which areas are likely to be more affected than others during future events.