Application of differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (D-InSAR) for detection and monitoring of landslides, Case study: Garm Chay Watershed

Differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (D-InSAR) has become a useful technique for monitoring ground movement. The technique enables the analysis of very small ground movements in continuous and large areas and has the advantages of high accuracy, high resolution, all-weather adaptability, low cost and inaccessible area coverage. Thus, D-InSAR has been widely used for investigation of geologic hazards, such as subsidence, landslide, earthquake, and volcanic activity. In this research, D-InSAR technique was applied for detection of unstable slopes and determining moving displacement rate. For this purpose, eight SAR images of PALSAR sensor of ALOS satellite were selected for processing based on D-InSAR approach. Obtained results were validated by field observations prates. This paper is only represented results related to image pair processing of 5th July to 5th October 2007 with 92 days interval. Garm Chay watershed with 940 km2 area is located in North Eastern and 40 km far from Miyaneh in Eastern Azerbyjan, Iran. This region with 380 landslides is considered as one of the unstable landslide proven area in Eastern Azerbyjan. Occurrence of these slides caused heavy damages to rural properties and arable lands. As a result, Sovin village in north western part of this watershed was moved to other safesite. The results clearly showed that some old stabilized landslides were still active. Because of their proximity to local stream networks (check the possibility for stream displacement), they can be considered as important sources of sediment yield. Before mentioned period, the maximum displacement was calculated 5.8 cm in landslide surface near to Avin, Atajan and Benavaran villages. The results from this method should be validated by geodetic methods and field obsevations.