Abstract
In the last years, the advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR) has proven its effectiveness in the assessment of ground gotion with millimetric accuracy. Its integrated use with traditional (in-situ) topographic height determination techniques, such as geometric leveling and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), is consolidated in underground fluids extraction areas for detecting and monitoring land subsidence. Nevertheless, the lack of a specific standardized methodology does not allow for evaluating different results obtained from different types of analysis. Starting from the description of two independent estimations of land subsidence in the Agosta (Comacchio, Italy) area, where an environmental impact assessment procedure was carried out following a request for gas exploitation, this paper points out the need for a standardized methodology, focused on the in-situ calibration of InSAR data. This last purpose requires an adequately dense and homogeneous reference GNSS network. The in progress initiatives, at European and national level, aiming at providing a Copernicus Ground Motion service could offer the opportunity to structure a reliable and dedicated GNSS network, starting from the large amount of stations run by different institutions already existing in Italy.
Highlights
Land subsidence is a natural phenomenon affecting worldwide lowland areas and especially coastal areas, where thick sedimentary bodies are still consolidating [1,2,3,4,5]
Due to the Agosta field location, next to the Comacchio lagoons and wetlands and the Dosso degli Angeli gas field with its induced ground lowering, one of the most relevant impacts the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure focused on was land subsidence
The independent assessments carried out by Eni and ARPAE on the current subsidence diverged only of a few mm/yr, sufficient to cause a difference of several centimeters in the estimation of the impact of the production, whose planned duration is at least 13 years
Summary
Land subsidence is a natural phenomenon affecting worldwide lowland areas and especially coastal areas, where thick sedimentary bodies are still consolidating [1,2,3,4,5]. When preparing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of underground fluids exploitation that may last for several decades, it is necessary to know the rate and areal distribution of natural subsidence in order to avoid attributing the amount of natural lowering to the impact of the future mining activities. This may require detecting millimetric ground motions on areas extending for tens to hundreds of square kilometers. These in addition to traditional (in-situ) techniques for topographic elevation determination such as geometric leveling and GPS, has consolidated with satisfactory results [24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
