Detection of subsidence by radar interferometric data in the Seruci-Nuraxi Figus coal mine area (Sardinia, Italy)

In the present work, an Advanced Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technique has been used to measure deformations related to Seruci-Nuraxi Figus underground coal mine, located in the Carbonia-Iglesias mining district (Sardinia region, Italy). Specifically, COSMO-Skymed (CSK) data, obtained in the framework of the Third Not-ordinary Plan of Environmental Remote Sensing project by PSP-IFSAR technique, have been used to analyze the deformations occurring between 2011 and 2014 in the study area to improve the phenomenon knowledge. Availability of images acquired in ascending and descending geometries has permitted to calculate the vertical displacement component. Accordingly, a maximum subsidence of about 25 cm has been measured in the time span 2011–2014. Furthermore, time-lapsed vertical deformation profiles have also been carried out to analyze the dynamic ground-deformation development. DInSAR measurements have allowed obtaining information on the spatial and temporal development of a phenomenon, very useful to the cause-effect mechanism understanding aimed to improve the resources management