Historical analysis of the state of activity of a landslide in a desert area

Issue

To understand the past evolution of a slope for identifying the most suitable track of a new highway.

Solution

A dedicated satellite SAR interferometric processing approach was specifically developed for dealing with the few images available for the period 2006-2010. In order to take maximum advantage by the desertic surface (with no vegetation cover), and also to overcome problem related to potential fast displacements specific satellite data (L-band) were selected. The best observation geometry was carefully identified and selected.

Achievements

Five local interferometric anomalies, clue of displacements occurred in the past were identified. In the area involved by a recent collapse during working activities, a past small slope collapse was recognized in the observed period so defining the slope past events and suggesting the most critical sector in the road track design.

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