Abstract
This work provides a multi-temporal and spatial investigation of landslide effects in the San Fratello area (Messina province within the Sicily region, Italy), by means of C-band and X-band Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) data, integrated with in situ field checks and a crack pattern survey. The Sicily region is extensively affected by hydrogeological hazards since several landslides regularly involved local areas across time. In particular, intense and catastrophic landslide phenomena have recently occurred in the San Fratello area; the last event took place in February 2010, causing large economic damage. Thus, the need for an accurate ground motions and impacts mapping and monitoring turns out to be significantly effective, in order to better identify active unstable areas and to help proper risk-mitigation measures planning. The combined use of historical and recent C-band satellites and current X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar sensors of a new generation permits spatially and temporally detection of landslide-induced motions on a local scale and to properly provide a complete multi-temporal evaluation of their effects on the area of interest. PSI ground motion rates are cross-compared with local failures and damage of involved buildings, recently recognized by in situ observations. As a result, the analysis of landslide-induced movements over almost 20 years and the validation of radar data with manufactured crack patterns, permits one to finally achieve a complete and reliable assessment in the San Fratello test site.
Highlights
The occurrence of landslides in populated areas can pose a serious threat to human lives, property and structures
The launch of new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors that operate at 3 cm wavelength in X-band, i.e., TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed, with higher spatial resolution and reduced revisiting time (4–16 days) compared to the previous C-band satellites, has enhanced Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) capability for landslides detection and monitoring, allowing the identification of more recent and faster ground movements affecting small areas with improved precision
Ground motion within the area is assumed to be characterized by a steady-state nature, given the linear deformation model assumption made in the PSI processing approach (CROSETTO et al 2010; HOOPER 2006)
Summary
The occurrence of landslides in populated areas can pose a serious threat to human lives, property and structures. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry throughout the use of medium resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in C-band (e.g., from ERS/ENVISAT satellites) has been demonstrated to be a valuable tool for back-monitoring slow-moving landslides, with good accuracy (up to 1 mm/year) and maximum detectable movement of about 15–20 cm/year (HANSSEN 2005; FERRETTI et al 2005; ADAM et al 2008; CASCINI et al 2010; CIGNA et al 2013). The launch of new SAR sensors that operate at 3 cm wavelength in X-band, i.e., TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed, with higher spatial resolution and reduced revisiting time (4–16 days) compared to the previous C-band satellites, has enhanced PSI capability for landslides detection and monitoring, allowing the identification of more recent and faster ground movements affecting small areas with improved precision. Multi-temporal estimation of radar velocities and related impacts on cultural and social heritage lead to an assessment of ground movements and landslide damage occurring within San Fratello over 20 years
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