Oscar Mora

The Estacio quarter of Sallent is being affected by a subsidence process caused by an abandoned mine. The phenomena has been studied and measured during the last years using different techniques. The RISCMASS project has allowed validating the use of new DInSAR techniques to detect and measure terrain movements. ANTECEDENTS The Conca Potàssica Catalana (Potassic Salt Catalan Basin) is located in the so called Central Catalan Depression, within the Ebre river Depression (Figure 1). This basin is made of a great saline unit, composed by an alternation of potash salts (sylvinita and carnalita mainly) layers. The potash salts have been traditionally exploited since ancient times, being still the most important mining activity in Catalonia. Balsareny, Cardona, Sallent and Súria are the main towns in the Bagues area with mining activities. Figure 1 -Situation of the Conca Potàssica on a Geological sketch of Catalonia.

The successful launch of TerraSAR-X has made available high resolution SAR images with new image characteristics. The objective of this paper is to present the experience of ALTAMIRA INFORMATION regarding the impact of these new data in commercial applications. Case studies will illustrate the findings.

We present a methodology to perform a geomorphological assessment of ground movements over wide areas, by improving Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) analysis for landslide studies. The procedure relies on the integrated use of multi-band EO data acquired by different satellite sensors in different time intervals, to provide a detailed investigation of ground displacements. The methodology, throughout the cross-comparison and integration of PS data in different microwave bands (ALOS in L-band, ERS1/2 and ENVISAT in C-band, COSMOSKY-MED in X-band), is applied on the Tramontana Range in the northwestern part of Mallorca island (Spain), extensively affected by mass movements across time, especially during the last years. We increase the confidence degree of the available interferometric data and we homogenize all PS targets by implementing and classifying them through common criteria. Therefore, PSI results are combined with geo-thematic data and pre-existing landslide inventor...

ABSTRACT Subsidence related to fluid withdrawal has occurred in numerous regions of the world. The phenomena is an important hazard closely related to the development of urban areas. The analysis of the deformations requires an extensive and continuous spatial and temporal monitoring to prevent the negative effects of such risks on structures and infrastructures. Deformation measurements are fundamental in order to identify the affected area extension, to evaluate the temporal evolution of deformation velocities and to identify the main control mechanisms. Differential SAR interferometry represents an advanced remote sensing tool, which can map displacements at very high spatial resolution. The Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique is a class of SAR interferometry that uses point-wise radar targets (PS) on the ground whose phase is not interested by temporal and geometrical decorrelation. This technique generates starting from a set of images two main products: the displacement rate along line of sight (LOS) of single PS; and the LOS displacement time series of individual PS. In this work SAR data with different spatio-temporal resolution were used to study the displacements that occur from 1992 to 2012 in the Alto Guadalentin Basin (southern Spain), where is located the city of Lorca The area is affected by the highest rate of subsidence measured in Europe (>10 cm/yr-1) related to long-term exploitation of the aquifer (González et al. 2011). The objectives of the work were 1) to analyse land subsidence evolution over a 20-year period with PSI technique; 2) to compare the spatial and temporal resolution of SAR data acquired by different sensors, 3) to investigate the causes that could explain this land motion. The SAR data have been obtained with ERS-1/2 & ENVISAT (1992-2007), ALOS PALSAR (2007-2010) and COSMO-SkyMed (2011-2012) images, processed with the Stable Point Network (SPN) technique. The PSI data obtained from different satellite from 1992 to 2012 were compared with some predisposing and trigger factors as geological units, isobaths of Plio-Quaternary filling, soft soil thickness and piezometric level. The PSI data were compared with measurement obtained by two GPS station located near the Lorca city: the value of deformation detected by satellites and ground-based tools are well correlated. The results are the following: a) the subsidence processes are related to soft soil thickness distribution; b) land subsidence rates shows that the area interested by the higher value is the same over the monitored period, a deceleration rate of subsidence has been recorded during the period 2011- 2012; c) the deformation rates are not correlated with the piezometric level trend, a delay time between piezometric level variations and ground deformations is evident.

An improved technique for generation of Digital Elevation Models (DEM), capable of dealing with full scene images (100x100 km) coming from an interferogram obtained with ERS satellite data is presented. Starting from an interferometric processor aimed to the geocoding of smaller areas, now we show the new improvements based on the use of a direct geocoding algorithm and Ground Control

ABSTRACT We focused on the joint exploitation of satellite and ground-based technologies in order to understand the kinematic behavior of landslides and subsidence phenomena relevant to different test sites in Europe. In this context, we efficiently exploited C-band and X-band satellite and ground-based SAR data for the investigation of the temporal and spatial pattern of ground deformations caused by natural and human-induced hazards. The present work has been conducted within the FP7-EU DORIS project.

In the vicinity of the Barkedji village (in the Ferlo region of Senegal), the abundance and aggressiveness of the vector mosquitoes for Rift Valley fever (RVF) are strongly linked to rainfall events and associated ponds dynamics. Initially, these results were obtained from spectral analysis of high-resolution (~10 m) Spot-5 images, but, as a part of the French AdaptFVR project, identification of the free water dynamics within ponds was made with the new high-resolution (down to 3-meter pixels), Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite (TerraSAR-X) produced by Infoterra GmbH, Friedrichshafen/Potsdam, Germany. During summer 2008, within a 30 x 50 km radar image, it was found that identified free water fell well within the footprints of ponds localized by optical data (i.e. Spot-5 images), which increased the confidence in this new and complementary remote sensing technique. Moreover, by using near real-time rainfall data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), NASA/JAXA joint mission, the filling-up and flushing-out rates of the ponds can be accurately determined. The latter allows for a precise, spatio-temporal mapping of the zones potentially occupied by mosquitoes capable of revealing the variability of pond surfaces. The risk for RVF infection of gathered bovines and small ruminants (~1 park/km(2)) can thus be assessed. This new operational approach (which is independent of weather conditions) is an important development in the mapping of risk components (i.e. hazards plus vulnerability) related to RVF transmission during the summer monsoon, thus contributing to a RVF early warning system.

ABSTRACT DORIS is an advanced FP7-EU project for the design of a pre-operational advanced downstream service aimed at detecting, mapping, monitoring and forecasting surface deformations, including landslides and ground subsidence, by exploiting multiple Earth Observation (EO) and ground-based (non-EO) data technologies. Ground deformations are the result of a variety of natural and human-induced causes and triggers. These phenomena are frequent and widespread in Europe, causing extensive economic damage to private properties and public assets and their social impact is relevant. In Europe, the large number of areas affected by ground deformations, the frequency and extent of the triggering events, the extent of the impact and the magnitude of the damage, make it mandatory a multiscale, systemic approach. Further, the complexity and extent of the problem is such that it cannot be tackled (and solved) at an individual, site-specific scale, or using a single technique or methodology. The problem can be approached only through the integration of data and information taken at different scales, and with the collaborative efforts of multiple expertise. With this respect, the several satellite sensors now available, including about forty passive - optical - sensors and nine active - synthetic aperture radar (SAR) - sensors, provide valuable technological alternatives to traditional methods and tools to detect, map, monitor and forecast ground deformations over large areas and with the required accuracy. The temporal continuity and the geometric compatibility among time series of ERS-1, ERS-2 and ENVISAT data represents an unprecedented opportunity to generate very long time series of ground deformations. This provides exclusive information for an improved understanding of the long term behavior of slow and very-slow ground deformation phenomena. In this context, DORIS intends to exploit the extensive catalogues of multiple C-band SAR sensors to provide, via a joint analysis, additional information on ground displacements through the generation of very long deformation time series, spanning an almost 20 year time interval by properly combining ERS-1, ERS-2 and ENVISAT data. In this work we present the preliminary results relevant to selected European areas (Umbria (Central Italy), Nebrodi (Sicily, Southern Italy), Zermatt (Switzerland), Silesian Coal basin (Poland), Mallorca (Spain) and Budapest basin (Hungary)) affected by ground deformation, highlighting as such EO data and technologies can significantly improve the ability of European Civil Defence authorities to assess and manage the risk induced by natural and man-made hazards.