Use of PSInSAR data to map highly compressible soil layers

Authors

  • C. DEL VENTISETTE Department of earth Sciences, University of Firenze. Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
  • L. SOLARI Department of earth Sciences, University of Firenze. Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
  • F. RASPINI Department of earth Sciences, University of Firenze. Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
  • A. CIAMPALINI Department of earth Sciences, University of Firenze. Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
  • F. DI TRAGLIA Department of earth Sciences, University of Firenze. Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
  • M. MOSCATELLI CNR–IGAG, Institute of environmental Geology and Geoengineering. Area della Ricerca di Roma 1. Montelibretti, via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Monterotondo Stazione, Roma, Italy.
  • A. PAGLIAROLI CNR–IGAG, Institute of environmental Geology and Geoengineering. Area della Ricerca di Roma 1. Montelibretti, via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Monterotondo Stazione, Roma, Italy.
  • S. MORETTI Department of earth Sciences, University of Firenze. Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.

Keywords:

InSAR, PS analysis, Surface deformation analysis, 2D stratigraphic reconstruction, Tiber delta, Peat

Abstract

A new approach to the use of Persistent Scatterers (PS) Interferometry data in the reconstruction of the extension of compressible geological bodies is presented. The methodology was applied in the test area of the Tiber River delta (Italy), characterized by the presence of two large marshy zones, known as the Maccarese and Ostia Antica ponds. PSInSAR™ data, derived from ERS1/2, ENVISAT and RADARSAT-1 images, and spanning a time interval between 1992 and 2006 were used to verify the possibility to reconstruct the spatial distribution of the peat levels inside the Maccarese and Ostia Antica ponds. Borehole information was analyzed to calibrate the InSAR data and the deformation rates were used to hypothesize the presence of a thick compressible layer where geological information is lacking. Variations in deformation rates registered by the single PS were assumed to be representative of a variation in the stratigraphic asset. The obtained results demonstrate that this approach could be satisfactorily used to investigate wide areas in a short time, reducing the number of boreholes to drill, and it could be a complementary technique to obtain information about the 2D geometry of specific geological levels.

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Published

2015-11-16

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Articles

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