The Interferometric Use of Radar Sensors for the Urban Monitoring of Structural Vibrations and Surface Displacements

In this paper, we propose a combined use of real aperture radar (RAR) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors, within an interferometric processing chain, to provide a new methodology for monitoring urban environment and historical buildings at different temporal and spatial scales. In particular, ground-based RAR measurements are performed to estimate the vibration displacements and the natural oscillation frequencies of structures, with the aim of supporting the understanding of the building dynamic response. These measurements are then juxtaposed with ground-based and space-borne SAR data to monitor surface deformation phenomena, and hence, point out potential risks within an urban environment. In this framework, differential interferometric SAR algorithms are implemented to generate short-term (monthly) surface displacement and long-term (annual) mean surface displacement velocity maps at local (hundreds m2) and regional (tens km2) scale, respectively. The proposed methodology, developed among the activities carried out within the national project Programma Operativo Nazionale MASSIMO (Monitoraggio in Area Sismica di SIstemi MOnumentali), is tested and discussed for the ancient structure of Saint Augustine compound, located in the historical center of Cosenza (Italy) and representing a typical example of the Italian Cultural Heritage.Grant numbers : This work was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Project MIDES (Ref: CGL2013-43000-P.© 2016 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works