Use of SAR interferometry for landslide analysis in the Arno River basin

Abstract

Deformation data obtained by differential interferometric analysis of radar images acquired by the satellite platform were used as a useful support in the definition of geometry and state of activity of landslides for identifying areas at risk and defining priorities for action. The interferometric data derived from radar images acquired by the ERS, RADARSAT and ENVISAT satellites were processed and used for the implementation of the database of landslides in the Arno basin (Tuscany, Italy). This database identifies some 25,500 landslide sites, of which about 10 % have risk elements, such as buildings, infrastructures and so. Of these, over 90 % present information about the movements that have permitted to perform statistical analysis of the velocity values recorded by satellites, reconstruct the displacement vector in the EWZN plane and obtain important information concerning the activity of landslides. The results were organized into a web-GIS project that represents a very important tool for river basin planning. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.