remotIO: A Sentinel-1 Multi-Temporal InSAR Infrastructure Monitoring Service with Automatic Updates and Data Mining Capabilities

Abstract

Multi-temporal synthetic aperture radar interferometry (MT-InSAR) is nowadays a well-developed remote sensing technique for monitoring of Earth’s surface deformation. The availability of regular and open Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data with enhanced spatiotemporal coverage has recently stimulated several initiatives for development of new monitoring services which can help to respond to emergencies faster and apply resilience measures more accurately as compared to conventional ground-based techniques. In this paper, the alpha version of the remotIO (Retrieval of Motions and Potential Deformation Threats) system is presented. It is currently able to provide continuous and autonomous updates of MT-InSAR results and post-processing methodology over sites with active deformation hazards to ease the interpretation and facilitate decision-supporting tools for on-time situational awareness. Our post-processing approach implemented in remotIO’s web application has proven to be useful in filtering the resultant deformation maps and in pinpointing problematic zones with potential ground deformation threats also over low-coherent areas.

Keywords

• synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR)
• critical infrastructure monitoring
• deformation monitoring
• ground displacement
• landslides
• subsidence