Error-Regulated Multi-Pass DInSAR Analysis for Landslide Risk Assessment

Abstract

Landslide risk assessment based on Differential Interferometric SAR analyses (DInSAR) is associated with a number of error effects. We here approach the problem of assessing landslide risks over mountainous areas, where DInSAR observations are often influenced by orographic effects and inaccurate base topographies by employing a dedicated error compensation. In order to obtain accurate information on surface deformation, we apply corrections for DInSAR interferograms using high-resolution base topography and water vapor information obtained from a satellite radiometer. We observe that the corrected DInSAR output is in accordance with the environmental context as inferred by geological and geomorphological settings. It is feasible to better quantify landslide monitoring schemes whenever high- accuracy atmospheric error maps and a methodology to effectively compensate for external errors in DInSAR interferograms are available. The approach in this study can be further upgraded for future SAR- based assessments and various error correction approaches for even more precise landslide risk assessments.