Aerial surveys reveal major terrain changes on Svalbard

Since 2019, NORCE and Lufttransport have worked together to use one of Lufttransport’s two Dornier 228 aircraft (LN-LYR) to map terrain and environmental conditions on Svalbard. A sensor pod mounted beneath the aircraft houses high-resolution cameras and precision navigation equipment. This equipment has now been used to create a detailed 3D model of the terrain at Forkastningsfjellet, just outside Longyearbyen.

Comparing the new measurements from 2026 with elevation data collected by the Norwegian Polar Institute in 2009 revealed extensive changes to the mountainside. Preliminary analyses identify several areas affected by landslides and slope failures. The analysis indicates an estimated loss of around 390,000 cubic metres of material within a defined area, coinciding with previously documented rockslides.

– This is a good example of how high-resolution aerial data can be used to document rapid terrain changes on Svalbard. By combining new, precise measurements with older terrain data, we can identify where changes have occurred and calculate their extent, says Agnar Sivertsen, Senior Researcher at NORCE.

From aerial images to measurable changes

The new 3D model has a resolution of 25 centimetres, while the older elevation model has a resolution of 2.5 metres. To make the comparison as consistent as possible, the researchers resample both models to the same resolution of 2.5 metres before calculating the changes.

The results can be displayed on a change map: red indicates where the terrain has become lower, while blue indicates where it has become higher. The differences in elevation also make it possible to calculate the volume of material lost from a defined area.

The measurements do not establish what triggered each individual change. Senior Researcher Tom Rune Lauknes emphasises that NORCE’s work examines the terrain changes themselves, not their causes. A warmer climate and thawing permafrost can affect landscape stability, but individual events cannot automatically be attributed to climate change.

Forkastningsfjellet is just one example. The same method can be used to monitor erosion, landslides and changes in permafrost areas, and to document vulnerable cultural heritage sites and infrastructure. Repeated surveys allow researchers to track changes over time.

From logistics to new specialist missions

This year, Lufttransport marks 50 years of operations on Svalbard. The Dornier aircraft is primarily used to provide transport between Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund on behalf of Kings Bay.

The surveys at Forkastningsfjellet demonstrate how aircraft capacity already available on Svalbard can serve additional mapping, environmental monitoring and emergency preparedness needs.

– The data we collect using the aircraft can complement both satellite data and ground-based measurements. In recent years, NORCE has used the Dornier aircraft to measure sea ice and other Arctic conditions. Forkastningsfjellet demonstrates how the same infrastructure can also be used to monitor rapid, local changes on Svalbard, says Lauknes.

These surveys can provide a stronger evidence base for management and emergency preparedness, including by documenting landscape changes, monitoring vulnerable cultural heritage sites and infrastructure, and providing a rapid overview following landslides and other environmental events.