Monitoring of mining induced surface deformation

The main objective of the project ”Monitoring of mining induced surface deformation” (ALOS-RA-94) is to evaluate multi-temporal PALSAR data for land surface deformation monitoring, using interferometric techniques. Differential interferometry using PALSAR data over several mining sites in Germany, Poland and Czech Republic, as well as over alpine landslides in Switzerland and Italy was used to assess the potential of L-band repeat-pass DINSAR for these applications. In general the PALSAR data obtained were well suited. The data were found of good quality and well suited, with generally short baselines (< 1.5km), well overlapping range and azimuth reflectivity spectra, and a systematic acquisition of data following the strategic observation plan. Acquisitions acquired in single polarization mode as well as dual polarization acquisitions were used. Of particular interest was the relatively good potential found even for vegetated surfaces and for deformation fields with high spatial deformation gradients. Pairs with 46 days intervals permitted to retrieve the deformation above active coal mining with subsidence rates as high as 30cm/month. Similarly, fast moving landslides could be identified in single differential interferograms. For many of the test sites chosen results from C-band interferometry, mainly based on ERS and ENVISAT data, were available for comparison. As compared to C-band interferometry the applicability is clearly enhanced in the case of vegetated surfaces and for deformation fields with high spatial deformation gradients.