In-Situ Remote Sensing Laboratory

• Subject Area: Geophysics and Geodesy
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458891585

In order to extend relevant progress in the investigation of physical relationships between climate warming, permafrost development, glacier retreat, slope internal deformation behaviour and feedback effects in unstable rock slopes, continuous or regular, periodic, temporally and spatially high-resolution measurement series over long periods of time are required. Previous research results were mostly based on periodic measurements of deformations or continuous point measurements by means of GNSS or total stations in accessible areas of unstable rock slopes. Short and medium-term development trends as well as the internal deformation behaviour including feedback effects remained unexplored. These, however, are of essential importance for the identification of physical processes, the scientific proof as well as the allocation of development trends in connection with temporally and spatially variable, external influencing factors. In most cases, the target objects of the working group are extremely steep rock slopes, which are often inaccessible due to permanent rockfall hazard. This requires the acquisition of an in-situ remote sensing laboratory consisting of a Long-Range Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) as well as ground-based interferometric radars protected against weathering.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: In-Situ Fernerkundungslabor
• Instrumentation Group: 0660 Spezielle Geräte für astronomische Vermessung, Satellitengeodäsie und Fernerkundung
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Leader: Professor Florian Amann, Ph.D.