Landslide Scars Detection using Remote Sensing and Pattern Recognition Techniques: Comparison Among Artificial Neural Networks, Gaussian Maximum Likelihood, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine Classifiers

Abstract

Landslide inventory is an essential tool to support disaster risk mitigation. The inventory is usually obtained via conventional methods, as visual interpretation of remote sensing images, or semi-automatic methods, through pattern recognition. In this study, four classification algorithms are compared to detect landslides scars: Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Maximum Likelihood (ML), Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). From Sentinel-2A imagery and SRTM’s Digital Elevation Model (DEM), vegetation indices and slope features were extracted and selected for two areas at the Rolante River Catchment, in Brazil. The classification products showed that the ML and the RF presented superior results with OA values above 92% for both study areas.  These best accuracy’s results were identified in classifications using all attributes as input, so without previous feature selection.