Multi-Temporal Evaluation of Landslide Movements and Impacts on Buildings in San Fratello (Italy) By Means of C-Band and X-Band PSI Data

Abstract

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 crosscompared 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.

Building Deformation Assessment by Means of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry Analysis on a Landslide-Affected Area: The Volterra (Italy) Case Study

“…The use of COSMO-SkyMed X-band data significantly improved the level of detail of the analysis on built-up areas and man-made infrastructure, since many targets show up on roofs and facades [11,41,42]. IDW interpolation was confirmed to be a step forward in the PSI data radar interpretation procedure, firstly introduced by [43] and then widely used by the scientific community, extending the point-like information stored in the PS benchmarks.…”

“…As a consequence, PSI data are particularly effective for urbanized areas where many radar benchmarks can be retrieved [10]. Just on these populated and built-up areas, potential damages and losses caused by ground instability are stronger due to the higher value of the exposed elements at risk [11].…”

“…In past research, space-borne advanced SAR interferometry has been used to map and monitor movements and related building deformations on landslide-prone and -affected areas [11][12][13]. In particular, several works deal with the use of PS motion rates for detecting displacements in urbanized and cultural heritage sites [14][15][16][17][18][19], as well as for monitoring single urban structures [20,21].…”

Advanced Technologies for Landslides (WCoE 2014–2017, IPL-196, IPL-198)

“…In WP 2 the research was focused on the development of a satellite surveillance system, exploiting satellite data for the identification, mapping, monitoring and analysis of risk scenarios associated with landslides, from local to regional scale Bianchini et al 2014;Lu et al 2014). Its implementation was carried out by:…”

Investigating Spatial Patterns of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry Point Targets and Landslide Occurrences in the Arno River Basin

“…For example, Hilley et al [27] performed one of the earliest studies to analyze landslide dynamics from PS and precipitation data; Colesanti and Wasowski [28] integrated field investigation with acquisition geometry to understand landslide mechanism in Liechtenstein Alps; Calo et al [29] exploited PS combined with ground measurements to assess the activity of landslides; Zhao et al [30] attempted to understand mechanism of slope failure and define corresponding rainfall thresholds for landslide early warning purposes by using PS covering California and Oregon, USA. Other representative applications of PSI in landslide studies include: Cascini et al [31] suggested to project the line-of-sight (LOS) deformation vector obtained from PS to the steepest slope direction supposing that the targeted mass movement is translational landslide; Cigna et al [32] suggested a framework for assessing landslide intensity from PSI-based matrix approach; Lu et al [33] proposed a method for quantitatively assessing landslide hazard and risk at regional scale from PS; Bianchini et al [34] showed how to use PS to improve maps of damage assessement due to landslide occurrence.…”