This study quantifies geothermal radiative heat flux and heat loss at the Dayoukeng crater, Tatun Volcanic Group, Taiwan, using UAV thermal imagery and Landsat thermal infrared data. While Landsat efficiently captures regional geothermal heat loss, UAV observations resolve fine-scale thermal variability with much higher spatial detail. Both approaches produce comparable geothermal heat loss estimates (210–217 MW), demonstrating their complementary strengths. This work represents the first UAV-based geothermal heat loss assessment at Dayoukeng and provides a valuable framework for geothermal exploration and volcanic monitoring.
本研究結合無人機熱影像與 Landsat 熱紅外資料，量化台灣大屯火山群大油坑地熱輻射熱通量與熱損失。結果顯示衛星可有效評估區域地熱熱損失，無人機則可解析局部熱異質性，兩者具互補優勢，可應用於地熱探勘與火山監測。
The SRLab is equiped with the RIEGL RiCOPTER, a professional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, designed for high-precision mapping and surveying. Equipped with a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, it measures the Earth's surface by emitting hundreds of thousands of laser pulses every second and recording the time it takes for each pulse to return. Combined with accurate GPS positioning and motion sensors, these measurements produce detailed three-dimensional (3D) maps of the landscape. Unlike traditional aerial photography, LiDAR can detect the ground through gaps in vegetation, making it especially valuable for mapping forests and mountainous regions. Today, UAV LiDAR is widely used to monitor landslides, map earthquake faults, survey river channels, measure forest structure, inspect infrastructure, and support environmental research. Its speed, accuracy, and high spatial resolution make it an essential tool for understanding and managing our changing environment.
On August 5, 2026, our research group conducted a field trip to examine Miocene and Oligocene rocks in the Hsintien Geological Map area as part of our summer intern research program. With beautiful weather, we visited several outcrops to observe rock formations, geomorphology, and geological structures. The trip provided interns with valuable hands-on experience in field geology and a deeper understanding of the region's geological structures and evolution.
This study examines sediment erosion in Taiwan's Zhoukou River Basin over the past 30 years, focusing on the impact of extreme rainfall. Traditional methods measure erosion over different time scales, but we used a unique approach for decade-long calculations with global and regional digital elevation models (DEMs). Our new method, applying Fourier analysis, reduces vertical bias in DEMs. Spectral analysis helps correct vertical offsets. Erosion rates calculated through DEMs of Difference (DoD) show a significant drop in sediment export from 1990-2010 to 2011-2020 due to reduced extreme rainfall. The denudation rate decreased from 14.19 mm/yr to 10.46 mm/yr in the Zhoukou River Basin. Our method effectively estimates sediment transport rates using underutilized DEMs.
This study focuses on detecting and monitoring slow-moving landslides in Taiwan using a sophisticated radar technique. Identifying over 2500 pre-existing landslides is crucial for assessing their activity, especially before typhoon seasons. The proposed method, "multi-snap2stamps," effectively analyzes nine slow-moving landslides, revealing seasonal patterns in two sites and accelerated movement in one. The study showcases the potential of the method for large-scale landslide detection and monitoring.
This research focuses on Kueishantao (also known as Turtle Island), an active and iconic volcanic island situated off the northeastern coast of Taiwan. The island is famous for its extreme underwater hot springs and active sulfur gas vents, making it a highly dynamic geological environment to study. We utilized thermal satellite imagery to measure and track the heat patterns on the surface of the island over an extended period. By carefully analyzing this satellite temperature data, we were able to map the specific thermal pattern of the volcano and observe exactly how its heat output fluctuated over time. The primary significance of this research is that it establishes a long-term thermal baseline for Kueishantao and the potential relations to the subsurface structures. Using satellites provides a continuous, and comprehensive view of its activity, helping us understand the volcano's hidden behaviors.
A long-term landslide on the Huafan University campus in Taiwan, observed since 1990, lacks reliable monitoring data post-2018 due to equipment maintenance issues. This study employs multitemporal interferometry (MTI) using Sentinel-1 SAR images from 2014–2019 to monitor the landslide. MTI reveals consistent slow-moving areas with previous studies, indicating gravity-induced deformation and seasonal surface fluctuations linked to precipitation. This technique compensates for the lack of data and aids in evaluating and monitoring landslides for potential early warnings.
Using high-resolution DEM derived from LiDAR in Taiwan's Coastal Range, this study overcame challenges in geologic mapping caused by dense vegetation and steep terrain. The mapping method successfully identified features in both igneous and sedimentary rock, revealing new structures like shear zones, faults, and monoclines. The results, including a 1:50000 geologic map and profiles, showcase the potential of this approach for geological studies and engineering applications.
We investigate a slow-moving landslide in southern Taiwan using satellite radar data. By applying a technique called Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI), we can detect very small ground movements over time with millimeter-level precision. Using five years of satellite observations (2018–2023), we find that the slope is moving slowly—only a few millimeters per year in both horizontal and vertical directions. We confirm these results with field measurements. Our study shows that combining satellite monitoring with open-source tools provides an effective and low-cost way to track landslides, helping improve hazard assessment and early warning in mountainous areas.
Satellite-detected land surface temperature (LST) and seismic records are used to study the volcanic activity of Tatun Volcanic Group. Analyzing four decades of LST and three decades of earthquake magnitude data reveals a correlation between LST trends and energy released from volcanic earthquakes, validating the connection between surface temperatures and volcanic activity.
