Mapping a subsiding City: High-Resolution Multi-Angle Analysis of Venice

Abstract

The capability of the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry method to detect smallest deformation and movements has already been proven in many test areas an fields of research, as e.g. regarding earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and vertical surface changes. The present thesis focuses therefore on the fusion of data from different tracks covering the city of Venice. Next to the detection of deformation rates with the GENESIS-PSI processor of the DLR and an appropriate visualization of the results, the main analysis refers to the potential of recieving additional information about the city's structure. Five stacks of TerraSAR-X High Resolution Spotlight images with varying incident angles and orbit path directions are used for this investigation, covering a time intervall of nearly two years (2008-2010). Since Venice is of high cultural importance, the detection, identification and monitoring of subsiding objects or areas is essential for their protection.