Measurement of deformations of the earth's surface from space

The InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) research area focuses on the interferometric analysis of radar data from satellite-based measurement systems with the goal of deriving the displacement field on the Earth's surface. The data used consists of radar data at specific wavelengths—typically X-, C-, or L-band—collected using a fixed acquisition geometry over a period of several years.
At GIK, the focus is on methods suitable for the large-scale detection of ground movements caused by geophysical phenomena or human activity. Important information can be obtained where temporally stable radar reflectors are present (primarily on buildings, rocks, or bare ground). The simultaneous interferometric analysis of a large number of radar images yields displacement fields with high spatial resolution and accuracies in the range of a few millimeters, measured along the line of sight between the ground point and the radar antenna. By combining InSAR displacement fields in the line-of-sight from different orbits with GNSS data, leveling data, or a model of the movement phenomenon, 3D displacement fields can be derived.
Research on InSAR at GIK focuses on developing improved methods for applications in Earth observation and infrastructure monitoring, which are being developed for interdisciplinary projects and in collaboration with government agencies.