Regional Scale Interferometric Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced synthetic aperture interferometry (A-DInSAR) is considered a consolidated tool for ground motion detection and monitoring. The increasing performances of radar satellites and the technical evolution of image analysis techniques, coupled with the improved computational capabilities (supported by cloud computing services), allow rethinking the role of A-DInSAR products for geohazards monitoring. The launch of the Sentinel-1 constellation by the European Space Agency (ESA) gave a new impetus to interferometric applications, exploiting the open source strategy in the framework of the Copernicus Program.

A-DInSAR products begin to be not only a post-event tool or a support and validation for local scale or single-phenomenon motoring activities. In fact, the evolution of interferometric applications follows the increasing demand for ground deformation mapping over large territories (municipalities, regions, nations), showing where and how something is moving. This is not only a requirement for setting up long-term hydrogeological risk plans but also for proper funding allocation.

Some European nations have already adopted interferometric products for regional/national monitoring of ground motions, in a few cases using satellite interferometry as a near-real-time tool. The definition of the European ground motion service (EU-GMS) that will support ground motion mapping over Europe in future years is of fundamental importance for creating a baseline for further analyses, providing norms, guidelines, and standardized methodologies.

In this Special Issue, the word “region” does not refer to a political limit but to the concept of wideness. Thus, we welcome papers regarding:

• Wide area interferometric applications;
• New processing strategies for the management of large stacks of interferometric products over wide areas;
• New tools and methodologies for extracting reliable information from a large stack of interferometric data;
• New tools and methodologies for data interpretation at regional scale;
• Technical notes about the correct use and dissemination of interferometric products at regional scale.

 Related References

1. Costantini, M.; Ferretti, A.; Minati, F.; Falco, S.; Trillo, F.; Colombo, D.; Vecchioli, ; Rucci, A.; Fumagalli, A.; Allievi, J.; et al. Analysis of surface deformations over the whole Italian territory by interferometric processing of ERS, Envisat and COSMO-SkyMed radar data. Remote Sens. Environ. 2017, 202, 250–275.
2. EU-GMS Task Force-European Ground Motion Service (EU-GMS) White Paper, 2017.
3. Geological Survey of Norway–InSAR Norway project. Available online: http://www.insar.ngu.no/ (accessed on 6 May 2019).
4. Kalia, A.C.; Frei, M.; Lege, T. A Copernicus downstream-service for the nationwide monitoring of surface displacements in Germany. Remote Sens. Environ. 2017, 202, 234–249.
5. Raspini, F.; Bianchini, S.; Ciampalini, A.; Del Soldato, M.; Solari, L.; Novali, F.; Casagli, N. Continuous, semi-automatic monitoring of ground deformation using Sentinel-1 satellites. Scientific reports, 2018.

Dr. Lorenzo Solari
Dr. Andrea Ciampalini
Dr. Silvia Bianchini
Guest Editors

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• Satellite radar interferometry 
• Regional scale processing 
• Geohazard monitoring and mapping
• Long-term risk reduction 
• Big data mining