On the Use of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar Data for Monitoring and Forecasting Natural Hazards

Abstract

Recent advances in satellite technologies, statistical and mathematical models, and computational resources have paved the way for operational use of satellite data in monitoring and forecasting natural hazards. We present a review of the use of satellite data for Earth observation in the context of geohazards preventive monitoring and disaster evaluation and assessment. We describe the techniques exploited to extract ground displacement information from satellite radar sensor images and the applicability of such data to the study of natural hazards such as landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and ground subsidence. In this context, statistical techniques, ranging from time series analysis to spatial statistics, as well as continuum or discrete physics-based models, adopting deterministic or stochastic approaches, are irreplaceable tools for modeling and simulating natural hazards scenarios from a mathematical perspective. In addition to this, the huge amount of data collected nowadays and the complexity of the models and methods needed for an effective analysis set new computational challenges. The synergy among statistical methods, mathematical models, and optimized software, enriched with the assimilation of satellite data, is essential for building predictive and timely monitoring models for risk analysis.