Anthropogenic Activity: Monitoring Surface-Motion Consequences of Human Activities with Spaceborne InSAR

This chapter presents the application of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometric techniques to ground surface deformation resulting from human activity. Subsurface anthropogenic activity can also amplify natural subsidence and can even trigger significant earthquakes. Interferometric SAR (InSAR), as a space-based geodetic tool, thus provides interesting imaging capability for the mapping and monitoring of land motion in response to anthropogenic activities. InSAR can be applied during all phases of tunneling projects: before, to identify pre-existing ground movements; during the work; and after the completion of the work for residual deformation monitoring. InSAR also plays a growing role in evaluating water-management practices and in implementing appropriate water-management strategies that may include subsidence mitigation. Spaceborne SAR interferometry can contribute to such monitoring by complementing and partially replacing ground-based measurements. Fluid extraction and cavity excavation are the main anthropogenic sources of subsidence.