Deformation measurement using Sentinel-1A/B imagery

Abstract

Land deformation monitoring based on C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar Sentinel-1A/B imagery is the main focus of this paper. This type of data is exploited using a Persistent Scatterer Interferometry technique. The paper describes a deformation monitoring strategy, which is related to a specific monitoring scenario: a relatively small deformation area of interest surrounded by a stable area. In the case study considered in this work, the scenario corresponds to an area of potential subsidence induced by underground water pumping. In this specific case, the deformation area of interest has a radius of approximately 1 km. The proposed monitoring strategy takes advantage of the specific scenario at hand, and, in particular, of the availability of stable areas close to the area that potentially is affected by deformation. In this paper we briefly describe the proposed data analysis strategy. The key component of the strategy, i.e. the estimation of the atmospheric component, is illustrated in detail. Some examples of the two main products of the procedure, i.e. the deformation velocity map and the deformation time series, are discussed.