Advancing Seismic Slope Instability Monitoring: Integrating Fibre-Optic and Nodal Array Sensing

Understanding the internal structure and evolution of slope instabilities is critical for improving hazard assessment in mountainous regions. A recent study at the Cuolm da Vi instability in central Switzerland - one of the largest slow-moving instabilities in the Alps - demonstrates the potential of dense seismic monitoring to investigate these complex processes.

Researchers deployed a large-scale multi-sensor network combining more than 1000 STRYDE seismic nodes arranged in a hexagonal grid with a 6.5 km fibre-optic cable system for Distributed Acoustic and Strain Sensing (DAS & DSS). This integrated approach enabled high-resolution imaging of the subsurface while also supporting continuous monitoring of deformation processes.

Over two years, the network recorded both controlled-source seismic data and continuous seismic and strain measurements. Early results show strong potential for imaging the internal structure of the slope and tracking seasonal deformation dynamics, highlighting how dense nodal and fibre-optic sensing technologies can advance landslide monitoring and hazard assessment in challenging alpine environments.