SuLaMoSA

Challenges

So far, no standard method for the continuous monitoring of landslides and ground subsidence has been implemented in Austria, but a variety of approaches based on inhomogeneous data have been used in isolated applications.

Meanwhile, advanced differential SAR interferometry (D-InSAR) techniques are increasingly recognised as a well-suited method to provide a continuous, homogeneous and large-scale monitoring service for ground subsidence and landslides.

From a technical perspective, a service that is largely based on Sentinel-1 data immediately encounters the problems of big data handling. For example, the SuLaMoSA workflow has to process around 6 TB per year just as input data. Another scientific challenge arises from the alpine topography of large areas in Austria. It is well known that SAR-specific features such as slope shortening and overlap or shadowing limit the applicability of any D-InSAR analysis. In addition, about 48% of the total area of Austria is covered by forest, which also has a strong negative impact on signal coherence in the C-band.

Results

SuLaMoSA will introduce for the first time in Austria a national monitoring service for subsidence and landslide mapping based on D-InSAR technologies. It will provide an unprecedented homogeneity of deformation products with an update rate of a few weeks to a few days. By systematically utilising the Sentinel-1 data, the service guarantees consistent products over a long period of time.

Observation of surface changes

PS / DS identification methods