Geophysical processes and anthropogenic activities cause the deformation of the Earth's surface,
both mechanisms interacting sometimes simultaneously. While the occurrence of those
processes in rural areas may not always directly a ect the population, the determination
of surface deformation in inhabited areas is of high relevance to prevent risks. Traditional
surveying techniques provide exact but usually spatially and temporally limited deformation
information, making a regular monitoring of whole urban areas di cult. Since about 20 years,
RADAR remote sensing, especially SAR interferometry, provide dense and accurate ground
motion information, completing hereby the traditional monitoring techniques. This present
study investigates ground surface dynamics in a town close to a former potash-mine situated
in the northern part of Thuringia, Germany, by means of multi-temporal SAR interferometry.
Using the method of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, 20 years of RADAR data from multiple
sensors are evaluated and compared to in-situ data. It shows that ground subsidences
decreased since the closing and back lling of the mine, which is in accordance with surveying
activities on this site.
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