Ground settlement assessment in urban areas through sbas-dinsar measurements: The case study of roma (italy)

Abstract

Deformation in urban settings, induced by both natural hazards, such as landslides or subsidence-uplift phenomena, and anthropogenic causes, as for the case of tunneling excavations for urban subway lines or new highways and bridge constructions, can result in differential settlements that may potentially produce severe damage to buildings. In this context, Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Interferometry (DInSAR) technique represents an effective tool to remotely detect and measure surface displacements over urban areas with centimeter to millimeter accuracy. This work presents an application of the multi-scale and multi-sensor SBAS-DInSAR technique to the urban area of Roma (Italy), aimed at investigating the displacements that, during the last two decades, have affected buildings within the downtown area. The analysis of the SBAS results is valuable to understand the spatial pattern and the magnitude of the settlements in comparison with a geological map.