Abstract
Monitoring ground displacement due to natural or human-made processes is an issue of major importance for engineers and planners; increased knowledge of displacement benefits all involved. Satellite based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a data source which when coupled with interferometric SAR (InSAR) techniques provides a powerful tool for estimating ground displacement. Vast areas can be mapped at spatial resolutions of a few metres with centimetre to millimetre displacement precision. SAR data archives exist for some areas as far back as the early 1990s. Since the arrival of modern sensors such as Sentinel-1, near global archives are being updated every few days and commonly reach back to 2015.
InSAR technology can seem complex and unwieldy to the unfamiliar. Measurements are one dimensional, satellite viewing geometry creates unintuitive effects, and several tradeoffs must be navigated to design a successful monitoring program. Potential users may feel reluctant to invest the effort required to feel comfortable with the technology, or may be discouraged by the technical jargon that persists in this field of practice. Others may be unsure whether the technology applies to their particular application or use case.
This work aims to provide readers with a means to gain familiarity with the technology and its applications. The chapter presents the topic in an easy to read manner, aimed at those who may be interested in initiating an archive analysis or an ongoing monitoring program for an area of interest. Key concepts are first presented, which will help readers understand the main considerations and limitations that are pertinent. Four case studies are then presented relating to tunnelling, aqueducts and aquifers, pipeline rights of way, and mining.
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Leighton, J., Ghuman, P., Haselwimmer, C.E. (2021). InSAR Satellite Surveys: Key Considerations for Monitoring Infrastructure. In: Singhroy, V. (eds) Advances in Remote Sensing for Infrastructure Monitoring. Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59109-0_2
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