The differential interferometry technology is a quite new method for detecting ground surface displacement using radar remote sensed data produced by two or more different antennas distant in space. This technology is unique among other methods of ground surface monitoring and is capable to achieve high precision of up to several millimeters.

The method is based on two so-called interferogram generation, which represents sensing area.

The first initial interferogram has to be made before changing the surface relief and the second one after. Then the interferograms are analyzed together to obtain the field of displacements.

Within the current project two-path differential interferometry technology is applied using a simulated interferogram based on existing digital model of relief. This interferogram is used as initial and compared with the data obtained from actual sounding measurements (real interferogram).

For example, with this technology it is now possible to monitor the whole region with the highest precision and to observe ground surface subsidence, to predict and investigate consequences of earthquakes, landslides and other geological phenomena.

More details about the differential interferometry technology can be found here.

Detection of ground deformations on the Black Sea coastline is made using satellite image data from ENVISAT and ERS produced with different settings.

For the purposes of the project «Monitoring of ground deformations on the Black Sea coast» we use software complex «DIAPASON» (see rar-archive).