Advances in Ground Deformation Monitoring

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2022) | Viewed by 14408

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
Interests: InSAR; geosciences; geohazards; remote sensing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue on advances in ground deformation monitoring. Much progress has been made in the development of techniques for the detection and measurement of all kinds of ground motion from remote platforms and sensors, to complement those made using conventional ground-based techniques.

Spaceborne InSAR is widely used for the precise detection, measurement and monitoring of ground deformation, and it is a very efficient and cost-effective method of doing so over areas of large spatial extent, at reasonably high temporal frequency, and without the need for ground-based instrumentation. Differential InSAR is now used for monitoring volcanic activity, earthquake deformation, effects of carbon sequestration, mining, engineering and hydrology-related subsidence and more. Recent advances in methods in data processing and sensor technology have enabled great improvements in measurement reliability and precision, through repeated observations over long time frames and at high resolutions.

This issue is intended for a wide and multidisciplinary audience and presents some of the most recent advances and novel approaches in the detection, measurement and monitoring of ground deformation.

Dr. Philippa J. Mason
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
  • Interferometric SAR (InSAR)
  • Differential InSAR (DInSAR)
  • ground deformation
  • monitoring
  • measurement

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 21007 KiB  
Article
Characterizing Micro-Displacements on Active Faults in the Gobi Desert with Time-Series InSAR
by Zixiao Wang, James Lawrence, Richard Ghail, Philippa Mason, Anthony Carpenter, Stewart Agar and Tom Morgan
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4222; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12094222 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1992
Abstract
This research investigates small-scale tectonic activity in the Jiujing region in Beishan, northwest China through the application of persistent scatterer (PS) Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). PS InSAR is an effective monitoring tool in this unpopulated, arid, and unvegetated rural area, whose surface [...] Read more.
This research investigates small-scale tectonic activity in the Jiujing region in Beishan, northwest China through the application of persistent scatterer (PS) Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). PS InSAR is an effective monitoring tool in this unpopulated, arid, and unvegetated rural area, whose surface geology is dominated by a single large granitic intrusion, and which represents a candidate site for a geological disposal facility (GDF) for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in China. This research demonstrates that faults F16-2, F17, F18, and F20-2 are still active, producing dip-slip motions along the fault planes. The lithological variations in weathering and erosion can be discounted as the cause for these small-scale displacement variations. The work has also identified 11 previously unknown faults, characterising them from vertical (DU) and eastward horizontal (DE) displacements along and across the faults. These newly discovered structures demonstrate how PS InSAR can be used to monitor and measure micro-scale movements on regional-scale faults, which, in many cases, were previously considered to be inactive. Thus, this also improves our understanding of local stress regimes in this area. The Jiujing region is part of a convergent fault zone dominated by NE-SW compression, leading to NE-SW crustal shortening and NW-SE elongation. Through determination of the sense of ground movement measured at irregularly distributed PS points, some faults are reverse and trending NW-SE, while others are normal and trending NE-SW, highlighting how InSAR can be used to resolve fault type and relative movements to monitor tectonic fault blocks at a regional scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ground Deformation Monitoring)
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22 pages, 13989 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Inversion and Mechanism Analysis of Surface Subsidence in Shanghai Area Based on Time-Series InSAR
by Jiahao Li, Lv Zhou, Chao Ren, Lilong Liu, Di Zhang, Jun Ma and Yujun Shi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7460; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11167460 - 13 Aug 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2027
Abstract
Abnormal surface subsidence has become a widespread geological problem being faced by cities. As a first-tier city in the world, there are problems such as unclear analysis of subsidence mechanism. Therefore, the monitoring of the Shanghai surface is particularly important. In this paper, [...] Read more.
Abnormal surface subsidence has become a widespread geological problem being faced by cities. As a first-tier city in the world, there are problems such as unclear analysis of subsidence mechanism. Therefore, the monitoring of the Shanghai surface is particularly important. In this paper, the Sentinel-1A satellite SAR image data of 36 scenes covering Shanghai area from January 2018 to March 2020 were processed on the basis of time-series interferometry synthetic aperture radar technique. The subsidence rate field and accumulated surface subsidence in Shanghai area during the study period were obtained, and the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of subsidence in the study area were discussed and analyzed from many different aspects. Moreover, the correlation between regional subsidence and geological structure, precipitation, urbanization, and other influencing factors were analyzed and established. Results show that the non-uniform subsidence in Shanghai area is clear, and those of the districts of eastern Songjiang, southern Jinshan, and Fengxian are more serious with a maximum subsidence rate of −26.2 mm/year. After analyzing the causes of subsidence, the special foundation of soft soil in Shanghai area is determined as the main reason for the subsidence, and the uneven subsidence is mainly caused by the over-exploitation of groundwater, human activities, and the subsidence of soil layer. Through comparative analysis, factors, such as rainfall, groundwater, and urbanization process, have high correlation with surface subsidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ground Deformation Monitoring)
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21 pages, 16509 KiB  
Article
Monitoring of Ground Movement and Groundwater Changes in London Using InSAR and GRACE
by Vivek Agarwal, Amit Kumar, Rachel L. Gomes and Stuart Marsh
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(23), 8599; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10238599 - 01 Dec 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4892
Abstract
Groundwater-induced land movement can cause damage to property and resources, thus its monitoring is very important for the safety and economics of a city. London is a heavily built-up urban area and relies largely on its groundwater resource and thus poses the threat [...] Read more.
Groundwater-induced land movement can cause damage to property and resources, thus its monitoring is very important for the safety and economics of a city. London is a heavily built-up urban area and relies largely on its groundwater resource and thus poses the threat of land subsidence. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) can facilitate monitoring of land movement and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) gravity anomalies can facilitate groundwater monitoring. For London, no previous study has investigated groundwater variations and related land movement using InSAR and GRACE together. In this paper, we used ENVISAT ASAR C-band SAR images to obtain land movement using Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PSInSAR) technique and GRACE gravity anomalies to obtain groundwater variations between December 2002 and December 2010 for central London. Both experiments showed long-term, decreasing, complex, non-linear patterns in the spatial and temporal domain. The land movement values varied from −6 to +6 mm/year, and their reliability was validated with observed Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, by conducting a two-sample t-test. The average groundwater loss estimated from GRACE was found to be 9.003 MCM/year. The ground movement was compared to observed groundwater values obtained from various boreholes around central London. It was observed that when large volumes of groundwater is extracted then it leads to land subsidence, and when groundwater is recharged then surface uplift is witnessed. The results demonstrate that InSAR and GRACE complement each other and can be an excellent source of monitoring groundwater for hydrologists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ground Deformation Monitoring)
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22 pages, 6785 KiB  
Article
Application of DInSAR and Spatial Statistics Methods in Analysis of Surface Displacements Caused by Induced Tremors
by Karolina Owczarz and Jan Blachowski
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(21), 7660; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10217660 - 29 Oct 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1797
Abstract
Induced seismicity is one of the negative phenomena caused by anthropogenic activities that include mining of minerals. This phenomenon manifests itself as sudden and unpredictable shocks of rock mass, which can cause surface deformation and damage to ground infrastructure. Until the advent of [...] Read more.
Induced seismicity is one of the negative phenomena caused by anthropogenic activities that include mining of minerals. This phenomenon manifests itself as sudden and unpredictable shocks of rock mass, which can cause surface deformation and damage to ground infrastructure. Until the advent of satellite radar interferometry that enables analysis of historical events, the characteristics of these unexpected surface deformations were difficult to assess. The main aim of the research was the spatial analysis of the geometry of surface displacements caused by eight induced tremors in the Rudna copper mine (SW Poland) and the dependence of deformation characteristics (vertical displacements, extent) on the induced shock energy. For this purpose, Sentinel-1 satellite imagery, the differential radar satellite interferometry (DInSAR) method and geographic information systems (GIS) based spatial statistics were used. Vertical displacements were mapped on the basis of 37 calculated interferograms. Spatial statistics on the pixel-to-pixel level were performed in the GIS Map Algebra environment. In the result, descriptive and spatial statistics characterizing deformations caused by individual shocks were calculated. The average values of vertical displacements ranged from −44 to −119 mm. Strong, statistical correlation between the extent, maximum vertical displacement, and energy values was determined. In addition, geometries of the formed deformation areas were analyzed and presented graphically. The results obtained in this research constitute development of a knowledge base on surface displacements caused by induced tremors in underground copper mining. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ground Deformation Monitoring)
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19 pages, 14448 KiB  
Article
Multi-Scale and Multi-Dimensional Time Series InSAR Characterizing of Surface Deformation over Shandong Peninsula, China
by Mimi Peng, Chaoying Zhao, Qin Zhang, Zhong Lu, Lin Bai and Weiming Bai
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(7), 2294; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app10072294 - 27 Mar 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2882
Abstract
Shandong peninsula, the largest peninsula of China, is prone to severe land subsidence hazards along the coastline. In this paper, we provide, for the first time, multi-scale and multi-dimensional time series deformation measurements of the entire Shandong peninsula with advanced time series Interferometric [...] Read more.
Shandong peninsula, the largest peninsula of China, is prone to severe land subsidence hazards along the coastline. In this paper, we provide, for the first time, multi-scale and multi-dimensional time series deformation measurements of the entire Shandong peninsula with advanced time series Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques. We derive the spatiotemporal evolutions of the land subsidence by integrating multi-track Sentinel-1A/B and RADARSAT-2 satellite images. InSAR measurements are cross validated by the independent deformation rate results generated from different SAR tracks, reaching a precision of less than 1.3 cm/a. Two-dimensional time series over the Yellow River Delta (YRD) from 2017 to 2019 are revealed by integrating time series InSAR measurements from both descending and ascending tracks. Land subsidence zones are mainly concentrated on the YRD. In total, twelve typical localized subsidence zones are identified in the cities of Dongying (up to 290 mm/a; brine and groundwater exploitation for industrial usage), Weifang (up to 170 mm/a; brine exploitation for industrial usage), Qingdao (up to 70 mm/a; aquaculture and land reclamation), Yantai (up to 50 mm/a; land reclamation) and Rizhao (up to 60 mm/a; land reclamation). The causal factors of localized ground deformation are discussed, encompassing groundwater and brine exploitation, aquaculture and land reclamation. Multi-scale surveys of spatiotemporal deformation evolution and mechanism analysis are critical to make decisions on underground fluid exploitation and land reclamation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ground Deformation Monitoring)
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