Abstract
In terms of its history and complexity, the Lugau/Oelsnitz mining area is a representative example of many hard coal fields in Europe. The special characteristic, however, is the low water inflow and the associated long flooding process with corresponding low and long-ongoing ground movements. In order to ensure the long-term monitoring of ground movements in the future, an adapted and cost-effective concept based on modern methods should be implemented. The today widely used radar interferometry, is well established as a method but the results offer many possibilities for interpretation, which one should be aware of in order to derive reliable information. Presented are the results of a complex interferometric evaluation, based on Sentinel-1 data from different orbits, and an analysis of the spatiotemporal characteristic of ground movements. The focus of this paper is a detailed presentation of the workflow and an application-related interpretation of the results. The pool of methods used includes radar interferometry, but also spatiotemporal analysis and modeling. The overall objective of this comprehensive case study is to present the possibilities but also the limitations of the application of radar interferometry and to provide a perspective for future monitoring in post-mining areas.
Highlights
Small standard deviations are shown for the study area and there were no spatial areas with significantly larger standard deviations that indicate atmospheric anomalies or unwrapping errors
The positive results of the carried-out radar interferometric evaluation showed that the methods used were very well suited to investigating mining and flooding-related subsidence and uplift of the Earth’s surface in the former hard coal mining district of
Radar interferometry has been proven to be a suitable tool for costeffective long-term monitoring of subsidence and uplift in the post-mining phase of disused mining areas
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Mining can affect its environment in a variety of ways. Impacts of extracting raw materials occur over a long period—the life cycle of the raw materials project, which consists of the exploration phase, the development and operational phase and the closure and after-care or post-mining phase. The largest impacts occur in the operational and the post-mining phase. Essential aspects are the intervention in the natural balance and its impact on biodiversity, the intervention in the water balance, the handling of mining waste, emissions of pollutants in water, soil and air and ground movements because of underground cavitation and water management activities. The characteristic and intensity of the impacts caused vary significantly depending on raw material-specific, technological, geological and ecological factors
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