Application of satellite SAR interferometry for the detection and monitoring of landslides along the Tijuana - Ensenada Scenic Highway, Baja California, Mexico

Abstract

Geomorphological conditions along the Salsipuedes section of Tijuana-Ensenada Scenic Highway (TESH), on the northwestern coast of Baja California, promote the occurrence of slope instabilities which pose a severe threat to the daily basis highway operation. The monitoring systems used for risk management strategies can reduce the impact of landslides. Despite that, the landslides along the TESH have not been continuously monitored due to the high costs and tricky logistics of conventional monitoring techniques. Satellite SAR interferometry demonstrated to be a useful complementary tool for landslide monitoring. This study aims to investigate the potential of satellite interferometric SAR techniques, such as conventional DInSAR and Advanced DInSAR (IPTA approach), for landslide identification and characterization in the Salsipuedes region. For this purpose, ENVISAT ASAR descending and ascending images from the 2003–2010 period have been used. The obtained results showed that, despite the limitations of the techniques, they could be effectively used for the slope displacements detection and monitoring. Based on the results of the interferometric processing, six landslides that have been active during the study period were identified, their geometric parameters were obtained, and their displacement rates were quantified. The landslides were classified as very slow based on measured LOS displacement rates (up to 5.5 cm/yr).