Divirod Inc. says it has completed a collaborative field project with Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI) to monitor landslide risk and slope stability across multiple vulnerable areas in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture, using GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R) sensors and software analytics to detect and classify terrain changes.
According to Divirod’s announcement, the deployment targeted mountainous terrain exposed to extreme rainfall and seismic activity and collected “continuous, all-weather” measurements across three areas of interest during the monitoring period. Divirod said its algorithms analyzed daily GNSS-R measurements to detect subtle changes in the ground surface, then classified observed changes into three categories: slope failure events, creep/slow-moving landslides, and temporary terrain changes often linked to rainfall or ground-moisture variations. Divirod reported detecting “hundreds” of terrain changes and correlating them with rainfall measurements and earthquake events, producing risk mapping and identification of active zones.
A highlighted event in the release was a landslide at Hakikoga in the city of Asakura. Divirod said imagery taken on Aug. 10 and 11 showed visible slope changes during daylight, while its GNSS-R terrain change maps indicated the slope movement occurred overnight when on-site cameras could not observe the event due to darkness; Divirod reported its sensors registered a spike in ground movement associated with the terrain shift.
GNSS-R, sometimes described as “bistatic radar of opportunity,” is a passive remote-sensing technique that uses reflected GNSS signals to infer properties of the reflecting surface. In spaceborne applications it has been used for ocean and land remote sensing (including soil moisture and other geophysical parameters), with the “passive” characteristic often cited as a differentiator versus active radar systems. Divirod positions its approach as GNSS-R sensing plus algorithms for environmental intelligence and deformation/anomaly detection in support of risk monitoring and early warning.
Divirod CEO Javier Marti said the work demonstrates how “advanced GNSS-R solutions” can enhance early detection and situational awareness for geohazards in Japan and that the company aims to expand deployments in Japan and globally. OKI CTO and head of technology division Yoichi Kato said the joint demonstration contributes to early response to natural disasters and strengthening regional resilience, and that OKI expects to continue the partnership to enhance disaster-prevention capabilities.
