Estimation of Mining-Induced Horizontal Strain Tensor of Land Surface Applying InSAR

Abstract

Horizontal strains related to mining-induced subsidence may endanger infrastructure and surface users’ safety. While directional horizontal strains should be well determined, appropriate solutions for a complete assessment of the terrain surface deformation field are still required. As a result, the presented study examined a new method for calculating horizontal strain tensor based on the decomposition of satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) observations into vertical and azimuth look direction (ALD) displacements. Based on a geometric integral model, we tested our method on experimental data before applying it to an underground copper ore mine in Poland. In the case study, the displacement field was determined using the Multi-Temporal InSAR method on Sentinel-1 data. The model data relative error did not exceed 0.02 at σ = ±0.003. For the case study, land subsidence of up to −167 mm and ALD displacements ranging from −110 mm to +62 mm was obtained, whereas the extreme values of horizontal strains ranged from −0.52 mm/m to +0.36 mm/m at σ = ±0.050 mm/m. Our results demonstrate the high accuracy of the method in determining the horizontal strain tensor. As a result, the approach can broaden the assessment of the environmental impact of land subsidence worldwide.

Parametry teorii Knothego – modele obliczeniowe i przykłady praktycznego zastosowania

“…Witkowski et al (Witkowski et al 2021) utilized the established Knothe's theory, which relies on a geometric integral model, along with the Multi-Temporal InSAR technique using Sentinel-1 data. They investigated a novel method for calculating the horizontal strain tensor.…”

Comparative Analysis of Theoretical, Observational, and Modeled Deformation of Ground Subsidence: The Case of the Alhada Pb-Zn Mine

“…Many InSAR methods have been developed, of which D-InSAR is widely used. It has been applied to the monitoring of deformation in mines [13][14][15], water resources [16], volcanoes [17], and earthquake scenarios [18]. However, the D-InSAR technology is limited due to the temporal and spatial decorrelation and atmospheric noise.…”

Editorial for Special Issue “Exploring Mining Landscapes: Reconciling Past and Present of Mining Activity”

“…The paper by Witkowski et al [5] provides an example of the advances that are being made in the field of stability and deformation in mining areas by the use of remote sensing techniques. The application of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology makes it possible to estimate changes in the position of points on the earth's surface from multi-temporal radar images (Sentinel-1 images) and to monitor the observed deformation over time.…”