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Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry

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A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 26232

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Benedetta Antonielli

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Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences and Research Centre for Geological Risks (CERI) of The University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
Interests: InSAR; landslides; ground deformation; geohazards

Prof. Dr. Francesca Bozzano

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Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences and Research Centre for Geological Risks (CERI), University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
Interests: engineering geology; landslides; geohazards
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Paolo Mazzanti

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Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
Interests: landslide monitoring; photomonitoring; interferometry; geological risks; geological hazards; satellite images; machine learning; image processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Among several remote sensing monitoring techniques for geohazards (both in urban and natural environment), satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Interferometry is one of the most effective, and it is commonly used for medium- or large-scale phenomena as it is capable of mapping changes in the Earth’s surface. Nowadays, this technique represents one of the most effective means to manage geohazards and mitigate their risks, allowing the in-depth knowledge of the deformation processes and the monitoring of geological disasters, both during the slow evolution of the phenomena and in the paroxysmal phase. SAR Interferometry can lead to relevant new insights into the evolution in time of the processes, which include natural geohazards such as landslides, land subsidence and sinkholes, earthquakes, and volcanoes, as well as the geohazards due to human activity, such as mining activities and groundwater extraction-related subsidence, among others.

This Special Issue calls for papers dealing with monitoring, mapping, analyzing, and modeling natural and human-induced geohazards, as well as the mitigation of geohazards and risk assessment by the use of satellite SAR Interferometry.

This Special Issue invites both research papers and review articles on recent advances in SAR/InSAR applications for ground deformation monitoring, as well as advances in mechanism interpretation of geological processes based on time-series deformation measurement, and integration of InSAR data with other geodetic observations (e.g., GPS, leveling).

Themes welcome in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

Landslides;
Volcanic processes;
Land subsidence;
Sinkholes;
Mining activities;
Seismic and tectonics;
Structures or cities affected by geohazards.

Article types for submissions: Research articles: There is no limit on the number of references, tables, or figures (within reason). Focus articles: Focus articles are mini-reviews that focus on a particular concept or example, addressing specific questions and introducing the reader to the current thinking on the topic. There is no limit on the number of references, tables, or figures (within reason). Review articles: Review articles should be at least 20 pages. There is no limit on the number of references, tables, or figures (within reason).

Dr. Benedetta Antonielli
Prof. Dr. Francesca Bozzano
Prof. Dr. Paolo Mazzanti
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

geohazards
interferometry synthetic aperture radar (InSAR)
earthquakes
landslides
land subsidence
sinkholes
mining
structures affected by geohazards
man-made hazards

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 6037 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Statistical and Independent Component Analysis of Sentinel-1 InSAR Time Series to Assess Land Subsidence Trends

by Celina Anael Farías, Michelle Lenardón Sánchez, Roberta Bonì and Francesca Cigna

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(21), 4066; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16214066 - 31 Oct 2024

Viewed by 740

Abstract

Advanced statistics can enable the detailed characterization of ground deformation time series, which is a fundamental step for thoroughly understanding the phenomena of land subsidence and their main drivers. This study presents a novel methodological approach based on pre-existing open-access statistical tools to exploit satellite differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) data to investigate land subsidence processes, using European Ground Motion Service (EGMS) Sentinel-1 DInSAR 2018−2022 datasets. The workflow involves the implementation of Persistent Scatterers (PS) time series classification through the PS-Time tool, deformation signal decomposition via independent component analysis (ICA), and drivers’ investigation through spatio-temporal correlation with geospatial and monitoring data. Subsidence time series at the three demonstration sites of Bologna, Ravenna and Carpi (Po Plain, Italy) were classified into linear and nonlinear (quadratic, discontinuous, uncorrelated) categories, and the mixed deformation signal of each PS was decomposed into independent components, allowing the identification of new spatial clusters with linear, accelerating/decelerating, and seasonal trends. The relationship between the different independent components and DInSAR-derived displacement velocity, acceleration, and seasonality was also analyzed via regression analysis. Correlation with geological and groundwater monitoring data supported the investigation of the relationship between the observed deformation and subsidence drivers, such as aquifer resource exploitation, local geological setting, and gas extraction/reinjection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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20 pages, 6644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Refined Coseismic Slip and Afterslip Distributions of the 2021 Mw 6.1 Yangbi Earthquake Based on GNSS and InSAR Observations

by Zheng Liu, Keliang Zhang, Weijun Gan and Shiming Liang

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(21), 3996; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16213996 - 28 Oct 2024

Viewed by 664

Abstract

On 21 May 2021, an Mw 6.1 earthquake occurred in Yangbi County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, with the epicenter located in an unmapped blind fault approximately 7 km west of the Weixi-Qiaohou fault (WQF) on the southeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. While numerous studies have been conducted to map the coseismic slip distribution by using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and seismic data as well as their combinations, the understanding of deformation characteristics during the postseismic stage remains limited, mostly due to the long revisiting time interval and large uncertainty of most SAR satellites. In this study, we refined coseismic slip and afterslip distributions with nonlinear inversions for both fault geometry and relaxation time. First, we determined the fault geometry and coseismic slip distribution of this earthquake by joint inversion for coseismic offsets in the line-of-sight (LOS) direction of both Sentinel-1A/B ascending and descending track images and GNSS data. Then, the descending track time series of Sentinel-1 were further fitted using nonlinear least squares to extract the coseismic and postseismic deformations. Finally, we obtained the refined coseismic slip and afterslip distributions and investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of fault slip by comparing the afterslip with aftershocks. The refined coseismic moment magnitude, which was of Mw 6.05, was smaller than Mw 6.1 or larger, which was inferred from our joint inversion and previous studies, indicating a significant reduction in early postseismic deformation. In contrast, the afterslip following the mainshock lasted for about six months and was equivalent to a moment release of an Mw 5.8 earthquake. These findings not only offer a novel approach to extracting postseismic deformation from noisy InSAR time series but also provide valuable insights into fault slip mechanisms associated with the Yangbi earthquake, enhancing our understanding of seismic processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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24 pages, 12316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Capabilities of the IREA-CNR Airborne SAR Infrastructure

by Carmen Esposito, Antonio Natale, Riccardo Lanari, Paolo Berardino and Stefano Perna

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(19), 3704; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16193704 - 5 Oct 2024

Viewed by 677

Abstract

In this work, the airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) infrastructure developed at the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) is described. This infrastructure allows IREA-CNR to plan and execute airborne SAR campaigns and to process the acquired data with a twofold aim. On one hand, the aim is to develop research activities; on the other hand, the aim is to support the emergency prevention and management activities of the Department of Civil Protection of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, for which IREA-CNR serves as National Centre of Competence. Such infrastructure consists of a flight segment and a ground segment that include a multi-frequency airborne SAR sensor based on the Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology and operating in the X- and L-bands, an Information Technology (IT) platform for data storage and processing and an airborne SAR data processing chain. In this work, the technical aspects related to the flight and ground segments of the infrastructure are presented. Moreover, a discussion on the response times and characteristics of the final products that can be achieved with the infrastructure is provided with the aim of showing its capabilities to support the monitoring activities required in a possible emergency scenario. In particular, as a case study, the acquisition and subsequent interferometric processing of airborne SAR data relevant to the Stromboli volcanic area in the Sicily region, southern Italy, are presented Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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16 pages, 69780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The 2024 Mw 7.1 Wushi Earthquake: A Thrust and Strike-Slip Event Unveiling the Seismic Mechanisms of the South Tian Shan’s Thick-Skin Tectonics

by Jiangtao Qiu, Jianbao Sun and Lingyun Ji

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(16), 2937; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16162937 - 10 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1495

Abstract

The southern margin of the South Tian Shan has drawn attention due to the intense compressional deformation and seismic activity associated with its thrust structures. However, the deformation and seismic activity in the thick-skinned thrust sheets of the root zones are minimal. The Mw 7.1 Wushi earthquake on 23 January 2024 serves as a window to reveal these unknown aspects of the seismic mechanisms in this structural setting. Using the Leveraging Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technique, we unlock critical insights into the coseismic deformation fields. The seismogenic fault is an unmapped segment within the Maidan Fault system, exhibiting a strike ranging from 241° to 222°. It is characterized by a shallow dip angle of 62° and a deeper dip angle of 56°. Remarkably, the seismic rupture did not propagate to the Earth’s surface. The majority of slip distribution is concentrated within a range of 4 to 26 km along the strike, indicating that this earthquake was a thrust event on a blind fault within the thick-skinned tectonics of the South Tian Shan. Coulomb stress changes indicate that aftershocks primarily occur in the stress-loading region. Interestingly, some aftershocks are very shallow, causing clear surface deformation. Inversion results show that the fault planes of two aftershocks are located above the main shock fault plane at extremely shallow depths (<6 km). Combining geophysical profile data, we infer that ruptures in the deep-seated thick-skinned structures during the main shock triggered ruptures in the shallow thrust structures. This triggering relationship highlights the potential for combined ruptures of the main shocks and aftershocks in the deep-seated thick-skinned structures beneath the South Tian Shan to result in larger disasters than typical seismic events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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23 pages, 46256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advantages of High-Temporal L-Band SAR Observations for Estimating Active Landslide Dynamics: A Case Study of the Kounai Landslide in Sobetsu Town, Hokkaido, Japan

by Seiya Usami, Satoshi Ishimaru and Takeo Tadono

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(15), 2687; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16152687 - 23 Jul 2024

Viewed by 781

Abstract

Estimating landslide dynamics is vital for the prevention of landslide disasters. Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) based on L-band SAR satellites is an effective tool for estimating the dynamics of forested landslides that occur in Japan. High-temporal L-band SAR observations have been planned for the future. Thus, it is necessary to further investigate the specific advantages of high-temporal L-band SAR observations for estimating landslide dynamics. In this study, we used DInSAR data with different time windows to identify active landslides in Hokkaido, Japan. This study is the first attempt to demonstrate the advantages of high-temporal L-band SAR observations for estimating active landslide dynamics. We successfully observed the dynamics of two active landslides, Kounai-1 and Kounai-2, using DInSAR over a time window of 14 days. We present the first spatial observation of the dynamics of Kounai-1 and Kounai-2. In addition, we discuss the dynamics of Kounai-1 and Kounai-2 based on interferograms, and our results suggest that both landslides are subunits of the same landslide, called the Kounai landslide. These results indicate that high-temporal L-band SAR observations can mitigate cycle slips and enable the estimation of active landslide dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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12 pages, 7370 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Fault Kinematics of the 2023 Mw 6.0 Jishishan Earthquake, China, Characterized by Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar Observations

by Xing Huang, Yanchuan Li, Xinjian Shan, Meijiao Zhong, Xuening Wang and Zhiyu Gao

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101746 - 15 May 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1243

Abstract

Characterizing the coseismic slip behaviors of earthquakes could offer a better understanding of regional crustal deformation and future seismic potential assessments. On 18 December 2023, an Mw 6.0 earthquake occurred on the Lajishan–Jishishan fault system (LJFS) in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, causing serious damage and casualties. The seismogenic fault hosting this earthquake is not well constrained, as no surface rupture was identified in the field. To address this issue, in this study, we use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data to investigate the coseismic surface deformation of this earthquake and invert both ascending and descending line-of-sight observations to probe the seismogenic fault and its slip characteristics. The InSAR observations show up to ~6 cm surface uplift caused by the Jishishan earthquake, which is consistent with the thrust-dominated focal mechanism. A Bayesian-based dislocation modeling indicates that two fault models, with eastern and western dip orientations, could reasonably fit the InSAR observations. By calculating the coseismic Coulomb failure stress changes (∆CFS) induced by both fault models, we find that the east-dipping fault scenario could reasonably explain the aftershock distributions under the framework of stress triggering, while the west-dipping fault scenario produced a negative ∆CFS in the region of dense aftershocks. Integrating regional geological structures, we suggest that the seismogenic fault of the Jishishan earthquake, which strikes NNE with a dip of 56° to the east, may be either the Jishishan western margin fault or a secondary buried branch. The optimal finite-fault slip modeling shows that the coseismic slip was dominated by reverse slip and confined to a depth range between ~5 and 15 km. The released seismic moment is 1.61 × 10¹⁸ N·m, which is equivalent to an Mw 6.07 earthquake. While the Jishishan earthquake ruptured a fault segment of approximately 20 km, it only released a small part of the seismic moment that was accumulated along the 220 km long Lajishan–Jishishan fault system. The remaining segments of the Lajishan–Jishishan fault system still have the capability to generate moderate-to-large earthquakes in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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19 pages, 20244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Land Deformation and Groundwater Storage Dynamics in Shijiazhuang–Baoding–Cangzhou–Hengshui Using Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar

by Qiuhong Yang, Xing Zhang, Jun Hu, Rong Gui and Liuming Yang

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1724; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101724 - 13 May 2024

Viewed by 1005

Abstract

Groundwater resources are crucial to socio-economic development and the ecosystem, and over-extraction can cause the groundwater level to drop, deplete reserves, and trigger geological hazards like land subsidence. The North China Plain (NCP) has experienced both subsidence and groundwater depletion due to over-extraction in the past 70 years. In this study, we used MT-InSAR technology and ascending C-band Sentinel-1 SAR data from 2017 to 2023 to study land deformation in the junction area of Shijiazhuang–Baoding–Cangzhou–Hengshui. We identified multiple subsidence funnels with a maximum rate exceeding −150 mm/year and a total deformation surpassing 600 mm. Seasonal decomposition methods accurately separated seasonal signals in the time-series deformation and groundwater level data. An exponential function model applied to long-term deformation showed no significant decrease in subsidence in severely affected areas. By modeling seasonal deformation and seasonal groundwater levels, we determined the elastic skeletal storage coefficients (S_ke) to be in the range of 1.02 × 10⁻³~6.53 × 10⁻³ in subsidence areas. We obtained the spatiotemporal evolution of the total groundwater storage (TGWS), irreversible ground storage (IGWS), and recoverable ground storage (RGWS). The TGWS and IGWS decreased annually while the RGWS increased, which is attributable to the implementation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) and the issuance of groundwater withdrawal policies in the NCP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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19 pages, 28024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Displacement Evaluation of Canto Do Amaro Onshore Oil Field, Brazil, Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) and Sentinel-1 Data

by Lenon Silva de Oliveira, Fabio Furlan Gama, Edison Crepani, José Claudio Mura and Delano Menecucci Ibanez

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(9), 1498; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16091498 - 24 Apr 2024

Viewed by 929

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of surface displacements in the Canto do Amaro (CAM) onshore oil field, situated in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, using Sentinel-1 data. The persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) technique was used to perform the analysis based on 42 Sentinel-1 images, acquired from 23 July 2020 to 21 December 2021. Moreover, information regarding the structural geology of the study area was collected by referencing existing literature datasets. Additionally, a study of the water, gas, and oil production dynamics in the research site was conducted, employing statistical analysis of publicly available well production data. The PSI points results were geospatially correlated with the closest oil well production data and the structural geology information. The PSI results indicate displacement rates from −20.93 mm/year up to 14.63 mm/year in the CAM region. However, approximately 90% of the deformation remained in the range of −5.50 mm/year to 4.95 mm/year, indicating low levels of ground displacement in the designated research area. No geospatial correlation was found between the oil production data and the zones of maximum deformation. In turn, ground displacement demonstrates geospatial correlation with geological structures such as strike-slip and rift faults, suggesting a tectonic movement processes. The PSI results provided a comprehensive overview of ground displacement in the Canto do Amaro field, with millimeter-level accuracy and highlighting its potential as a complementary tool to field investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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16 pages, 24606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Co-Seismic Surface Deformation Induced by 24 September 2019 Mirpur, Pakistan Earthquake along an Active Blind Fault Using Sentinel-1 TOPS Interferometry

by Muhammad Ali, Gilda Schirinzi, Zeeshan Afzal, Alessandra Budillon, Muhammad Saleem Mughal, Sajid Hussain and Giampaolo Ferraioli

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(8), 1457; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16081457 - 20 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1391

Abstract

Surface deformation caused by an earthquake is very important to study for a better understanding of the development of geological structures and seismic hazards in an active tectonic area. In this study, we estimated the surface deformation due to an earthquake along an active blind fault using Sentinel-1 SAR data. On 24 September 2019, an earthquake with 5.6 Mw and 10 km depth stroke near Mirpur, Pakistan. The Mirpur area was highly affected by this earthquake with a huge collapse and the death of 34 people. This study aims to estimate the surface deformation associated with this earthquake in Mirpur and adjacent areas. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique was applied to study earthquake-induced surface motion. InSAR data consisting of nine Sentinel-1A SAR images from 11 August 2019 to 22 October 2019 was used to investigate the pre-, co- and post-seismic deformation trends. Time series investigation revealed that there was no significant deformation in the pre-seismic time. In the co-seismic time, strong displacement was observed and in post-seismic results, small displacements were seen due to 4.4 and 3.2 Mw aftershocks. Burst overlap interferometry and offset-tracking analysis were used for more sensitive measurements in the along-track direction. Comprehensive 3D displacement was mapped with the combination of LOS and along-track offset deformation. The major outcome of our results was the confirmation of the existence of a previously unpublished blind fault in Mirpur. Previously, this fault line was triggered during the 2005 earthquake and then it was activated on 24 September 2019. Additionally, we presented the co-seismically induced rockslides and some secondary faulting evidence, most of which occurred along or close to the pre-existing blind faults. The study area already faces many problems due to natural hazards where additional surface deformations, particularly because of the earthquake with activated blind fault, have increased its vulnerability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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19 pages, 7646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Interferometric-Synthetic-Aperture-Radar-Based Method for Predicting Long-Term Land Subsidence in Goafs through the Concatenation of Multiple Sources of Short-Term Monitoring Data

by Jinyang Li, Mingdong Zang, Nengxiong Xu, Gang Mei and Sen Yang

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(17), 4203; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15174203 - 26 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1429

Abstract

The land subsidence occurring over a goaf area after coal mining is a protracted process. The accurate prediction of long-term land subsidence over goaf areas relies heavily on the availability of long-term land subsidence monitoring data. However, the scarcity of continuous long-term land subsidence monitoring data subsequent to the cessation of mining significantly hinders the accurate prediction of long-term land subsidence in goafs. To address this challenge, this study proposes an innovative method based on interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) for predicting long-term land subsidence of goafs following coal mining. The proposed method employs a concatenation approach that integrates multiple short-term monitoring data from different coal faces, each with distinct cessation times, into a cohesive and uniform long-term sequence by normalizing the subsidence rates. The method was verified using actual monitoring data from the Yangquan No. 2 mine in Shanxi Province, China. Initially, coal faces with the same shapes but varying cessation times were selected for analysis. Using InSAR monitoring data collected between June and December of 2016, the average subsidence rate corresponding to the duration after coal mining cessation on each coal face was back-calculated. Subsequently, a function relating subsidence rate to the duration after coal mining cessation was fitted to the data. Finally, the relationship between cumulative subsidence and the duration after coal mining cessation was derived by integrating the function. The results indicated that the relationship between subsidence rate and duration after coal mining cessation followed an exponential function for a given coal face, whereas the relationship between cumulative subsidence and duration after coal mining cessation conformed to the Knothe time function. Notably, after the cessation of coal mining, significant land subsidence persisted in the goaf of the Yangquan No. 2 mine for a duration ranging from 5 to 10 years. The cumulative subsidence curve along the long axis of the coal face ultimately exhibited an inclined W-shape. The proposed method enables the quantitative prediction of residual land subsidence in goafs, even in cases where continuous long-term land subsidence monitoring data are insufficient, thus providing valuable guidance for construction decisions above the goaf. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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18 pages, 7403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Analysis of Unstable Slope and Seasonal Frozen Soil Area along the Litang Section of the Sichuan–Tibet Railway, China

by Yuanjian Wang, Ximin Cui, Yuhang Che, Peixian Li, Yue Jiang and Xiaozhan Peng

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(5), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15051317 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1999

Abstract

The Sichuan–Tibet Railway (STR) is currently under construction and serves as an important transportation route in western China. Identifying potential geohazards along the route is important for project construction. However, research on the frozen soil of the Western Sichuan Plateau, and on frozen soil identification using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is relatively negligible. As a low-cost, all-weather spatial geodesy tool, InSAR is frequently used for geohazard identification. We selected a study area located along the Litang section of the STR, starting from Litang County in the east and extending 60 km to the west. The geological conditions along the line are complex, with numerous fault zones and hidden danger points for landslide. To identify unstable slopes along the line, distribute scatterer InSAR (DS-InSAR) was used to obtain surface displacement information from 2018 to 2021. Based on the displacement information obtained from the ascending and descending orbit images from Sentinel-1, a spatial density clustering method identified 377 and 388 unstable slopes in the study area, respectively, of these, 132 were consistent. The identified unstable slopes were mostly located in areas with a relatively high altitude and moderate slope. The Luanshibao landslide, which is a typical landslide in the study area, had notable signs of displacement, where the displacement rate along the back edge of the landslide can reach 20 mm/a. An inversion method for the seasonal frozen soil area distribution was proposed based on the periodic subsidence and uplift model and time-series monitoring data; the calculated seasonal freeze–thaw amplitude exceeded 20 mm. Further analysis revealed a 2-month lag in the response of the freeze–thaw phenomenon to the air temperature. This study demonstrated that DS-InSAR offers optimal surface displacement data, which can provide an important basis to identify engineering geological hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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26 pages, 9216 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Post Mining Ground Deformations Transition Related to Coal Mines Closure in the Campine Coal Basin, Belgium, Evidenced by Three Decades of MT-InSAR Data

by Pierre-Yves Declercq, Michiel Dusar, Eric Pirard, Jeffrey Verbeurgt, Atefe Choopani and Xavier Devleeschouwer

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(3), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030725 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3506

Abstract

Spatio-temporal ground-movement measurements and mappings have been carried out in the Campine coalfield in Belgian Limburg since the closure of the mines to document post-mining effects. MT-InSAR measurements are compared to groundwater head changes in the overburden and to height data from the closest GNSS stations. Radar interferometry is used to estimate the extension and the velocity of ground movements. In particular, the MT-InSAR technique has been applied to SAR acquisitions of the satellites ERS-1/2 (1991–2005), ENVISAT (2003–2010), COSMO-SkyMed (2011–2014), and Sentinel-1A (2014–2022). The images were processed and used to highlight a switch from subsidence to uplift conditions in the western part of the coal basin, while the eastern part had already been affected by a rebound since the beginning of the ERS-1/2 acquisitions. Following the closure of the last active colliery of Zolder in 1992 and the subsequent cease of mine-water pumping, a recharge of mine-water aquifers occurred in the western part of the basin. This process provoked the change from subsidence to uplift conditions that was recorded during the ENVISAT period. In the center of the coal-mining area, measured uplift velocities reached a maximum of 18 mm/year during the ENVISAT period, while they subsided at −12 mm/year during the ERS-1/2 period. Mean velocities in the western and eastern parts of the coalfield area have decreased since the last MT-InSAR measurements were performed using Sentinel-1A, while the Zolder coal mine continues to rise at a faster-than-average rate of a maximum of 16 mm/year. The eastern part of the coalfield is still uplifting, while its rate has been reduced from 18 mm/year (ERS-1/2) to 9 mm/year (Sentinel-1A) since the beginning of the radar–satellite observations. Time-series data from the two GNSS stations present in the study area were used for a local comparison with the evolution of ground movements observed by MT-InSAR. Two leveling campaigns (2000, 2013) were also used to make comparisons with the MT-InSAR data. The station’s measurements and the leveling data were in line with the MT-InSAR data. Overall, major ground movements are obviously limited to an extension of the actual underground-mining works and rapidly diminish outside of them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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19 pages, 8430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landslide Detection and Mapping Based on SBAS-InSAR and PS-InSAR: A Case Study in Gongjue County, Tibet, China

by Jiaming Yao, Xin Yao and Xinghong Liu

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(19), 4728; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14194728 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 60 | Viewed by 6032

Abstract

The rock mass along the Jinsha River is relatively broken under complex geological action. Many ancient landslides were distributed along the Jinsha River in Gongjue County, which is very dangerous under the action of gravity, tectonic stress and river erosion. Efficient and accurate identification and monitoring of landslides is important for disaster monitoring and early warning. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology has been proved to be an effective technology for landslide hazard identification and mapping. However, great uncertainty inevitably exists due to the single deformation observation method, resulting in wrong judgment during the process of landslide detection. Therefore, to address the uncertainties arising from single observations, a cross-comparison method is put forward using SBAS-InSAR (small baseline subset InSAR) and PS-InSAR (permanent scatterers InSAR) technology. Comparative analysis of the spatial complementarity of interference points and temporal deformation refined the deformation characteristics and verified the reliability of the InSAR results, aiding in the comprehensive identification and further mapping of landslides. Landslides along the Jinsha River in Gongjue County were studied in this paper. Firstly, 14 landslides with a total area of 20 km² were identified by using two time-series InSAR methods. Then, the deformation characteristics of these landslides were validated by UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) images, multiresource remote sensing data and field investigation. Further, the precipitation data were introduced to analyze the temporal deformation characteristics of two large landslides. Lastly, the influence of fault activity on landslide formation is further discussed. Our results demonstrate that the cross-comparison of the time-series InSAR method can effectively verify the accuracy of landslide identification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Urban Subsidence in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Central-West of Portugal) Applying Sentinel-1 SAR Dataset and Active Deformation Areas Procedure

by José Cuervas-Mons, José Luis Zêzere, María José Domínguez-Cuesta, Anna Barra, Cristina Reyes-Carmona, Oriol Monserrat, Sergio Cruz Oliveira and Raquel Melo

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(16), 4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14164084 - 20 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2228

Abstract

The Lisbon metropolitan area (LMA, central-west of Portugal) has been severely affected by different geohazards (flooding episodes, landslides, subsidence, and earthquakes) that have generated considerable damage to properties and infrastructures, in the order of millions of euros per year. This study is focused on the analysis of subsidence, as related to urban and industrial activity. Utilizing the A-DInSAR dataset and applying active deformation areas (ADA) processing at the regional scale has allowed us to perform a detailed analysis of subsidence phenomena in the LMA. The dataset consisted of 48 ascending and 61 descending SAR IW-SLC images acquired by the Sentinel-1 A satellite between January 2018 and April 2020. The line-of-sight (LOS), mean deformation velocity (VLOS) maps (mm year⁻¹), and deformation time series (mm) were obtained via the Geohazard Exploitation Platform service of the European Space Agency. The maximum VLOS detected, with ascending and descending datasets, were −38.0 and −32.2 mm year⁻¹, respectively. ADA processing over the LMA allowed for 592 ascending and 560 descending ADAs to be extracted and delimited. From the VLOS measured in both trajectories, a vertical velocity with a maximum value of −32.4 mm year⁻¹ was estimated. The analyzed subsidence was associated to four ascending and three descending ADAs and characterized by maximum VLOS of −25.5 and −25.2 mm year⁻¹. The maximum vertical velocity associated with urban subsidence was −32.4 mm year⁻¹. This subsidence is mainly linked to the compaction of the alluvial and anthropic deposits in the areas where urban and industrial sectors are located. The results of this work have allowed to: (1) detect and assess, from a quantitative point of view, the subsidence phenomena in populated and industrial areas of LMA; (2) establish the relationships between the subsidence phenomena and geological and hydrological characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring Geohazard from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry)

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