Integrating InSAR, GNSS, IoT, 5G, and Cybersecurity for Earthquakes/Tremor Monitoring and Forecasting in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Application of radar interferometry to measure geophysical changes of the earth has rapidly evolved since the early 1990s. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is suitable for measurement of the spatial extent and magnitude of surface deformation associated with natural hazards (earth-quakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsidence) and fluid extraction. The emergence of this new geodetic technique calculates the interference pattern that resulted from phase difference between two images of the same location, acquired by InSAR at different passes, producing a contour map or interferogram of the change in distance between the radar instrument and the ground. This records surface movement and change in the topography of the location. Integrating global navigation satellite system (GNSS) with established seismic monitors and 5G technology in Internet of Things — IoT (a platform where everyday devices become smarter, everyday processing becomes intelligent, and everyday communication becomes informative) for quakes and deformation monitoring is a novel idea that this study attempts to establish, with reference to the earth tremors of Abuja — Nigeria. The IoT architecture 196is capable of improving understanding of relevant technologies, tools, and methodologies at the most basic levels of the importance of InSAR for deformation monitoring through the following ways: (1) relevant data acquisition, (2) insight acquired from analyzing collected data, as well as (3) relevant actionable activities at the right place and time from the acquired insight. The approach of connected things facilitates acquisition of information that was not available previously, and expand their reach beyond traditional geographic boundaries. Devices linked to the Internet for transmission of InSAR data are subject to cyberattacks, which downgrades data integrity. Insecure protocols, nonencrypted data and poor user-authentication mechanisms are typical cybersecurity problems. The aggregate of timeliness, environmental characteristics, locational awareness as well as data-transmitting devices/security permits a new level of operational efficiency which is a highly relevant factor in integrating InSAR, GNSS, 5G, IoT, and cybersecurity for earthquakes and deformation monitoring.