Abstract

The shorter repeat cycle (6 days since October 2016) and regularity of acquisitions of Sentinel-1A/B with respectto earlier European Space Agency (ESA) satellites with C-band sensors (ERS1/2, ENVISAT) represent the keyadvantages for the research-oriented and practical applications of multi-temporal interferometry (MTI). Theapplicability of the Interferometric Wide Swath acquisition mode of Sentinel-1 (images covering a 250 kmswath on the ground) to regional scale slope instability detection through MTI has already been demonstrated,e.g., via studies of landslide-prone areas in Italy. Here we focus on the potential of Sentinel-1 data for local(site-specific), MTI-based monitoring and capturing pre-failure signs of slope instability, by exploiting thePersistent and Distributed Scatterers processing capability of the SPINUA algorithm. In particular, we presentan example of a retrospective study of a large (over 2 km long) landslide, which took place in 2016 in an activeopen-cast coal mine in central Europe. This seemingly sudden failure caused destruction of the mining equipment,blocked the mining operations thereby resulting in significant economic losses. For the study, we exploited over60 Sentinel-1A/B images acquired since November 2014. The MTI results furnished a valuable overview of theground instability/stability conditions within and around the active mine, even though considerable spatial gaps ininformation were encountered due to surface disturbance by mining operations. Significantly, the ground surfacedisplacement time series revealed that the 2016 slope failure was preceded by very slow (generally 1-3 cm/yr)creep-like deformations, already present in 2014. The MTI results also indicated that the slope experienced a phaseof accelerated movement several weeks prior to the landslide event. Furthermore, the spatio-temporal analysis ofinterferometric coherence changes in the unstable area (mapped on Sentinel-2 Bottom Of Atmosphere reflectanceimages processed by using the ESA Sen2Cor processor), indicated a sharp coherence loss in the last few weeksbefore the slope collapse. The availability of more frequent measurements represents a key improvement forMTI-based ground surface displacement monitoring and this will better support research on slope destabilizationprocesses over time and, ultimately, on slope failure forecasting.

Autore Pugliese

• Bovenga Fabio

Tutti gli autori

• J. Wasowski ; F. Bovenga ; D. O. Nitti; K. Tijani ; A. Morea ; R. Nutricato ; M. T. Chiaradia

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2017

ISSN

Non Disponibile

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

Non Disponibile

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile