D11: Report on permanent displacement analysis of the building through remote sensing technique

Velocity map over the period 2002-2010 of Rhodes historical centre. Red and purple pixels represents building showing vertical/horizontal displacement.

Hereafter you can download the full text of the deliverable D11.

This document presents the satellite-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) processing and results carried out at BRGM in the framework of the European “Perpetuate” project (Performance-Based Approach To Earthquake Protection Of Cultural Heritage In European And Mediterranean Countries) of the Seventh Framework Programme. “Perpetuate” project intends to develop European Guidelines for the evaluation and mitigation of seismic risk to cultural heritage assets, with innovative techniques for the seismic strengthening of historical buildings and the preservation of unmovable artworks. Our task here is to perform an assessment of ground surface displacements in the historical centre of the city of Rhodes during the period 2002/2010 using the satellite based Persistent Scatterers Interferometry technique (PSI). To do so, we use the European Space Agency ENVISAT Advances Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) data acquired between 2002 and late 2010. As outcomes of the PSI processing, we have firstly produced a map of surface displacement at a pixel level (20*20 metres) highlighting instable areas or buildings during the period 2002-2010. Secondly, we focus on 12 instable areas and we analyse the trend of surface displacement over the period 2002/2010. The time series of surface displacement show the history of the surface displacement of the 12 selected instable areas during the period 2002-2010. Among the selected instable areas and among the areas over which the radar signal could be analysed with the PSI technique, we report maximum displacement of 1.5 cm per year. The next step in this study would be the comparison between the PSI data and ground measurements, where possible.