Machine learning remote sensing using the random forest classifier to detect the building damage caused by the Anak Krakatau Volcano tsunami

In Indonesia, tsunamis are frequent events. In 2000–2016, there were 44 tsunami events in Indonesia, with financial losses reaching 43.38 trillion. In 2018, a tsunami occurred in the Sunda Strait due to the eruption of the Anak Krakatau Volcano, which caused many fatalities and much building damage. This study aimed to detect the building damage in the Labuan District, Banten Province. Machine learning methods were used to detect building damage using random forest with object-based techniques. No previous research has combined selected predictors into scenarios; hence, the novelty of this study is combining various random forest predictors to identify the extent of building damage using 14 predictor scenarios. In addition, field surveys were conducted two years and nine months after the tsunami to observe the changes and efforts made. The results of the random forest classification were validated and compared with three datasets, namely xBD, Copernicus, and field survey data. The results of this study can help classify the level of building damage using satellite imagery to improve mitigation in tsunami-prone areas.