Differential sar interferometry for mining subsidence detection in rugged terrain

In many countries that coal mining is applied, surface subsidence caused by mining activities has been carefully monitored, and some precautions intended for surface damages by the subsidence have been taken into consideration. However, subsidence is a complex event which is a result of natural and unnatural effects although it is taken place due to the underground productions. The regional behaviour of this event is changed from region to region. Therefore, determination of specifically subsidence parameters of these regions by periodical monitoring is necessary. The method of differential SAR interferometry is applied to map surface deformation by mineral mining in this paper. Eight scenes of ENVISAT images were processed and tested to demonstrate the potential of C-band INSAR in rugged terrain. A distribution map of mining goafs is introduced for validation. The comparison shows that INSAR detected subsidence covers all the main goafs recorded by field investigation and INSAR even found several private coal mines over-mined without permission. This research shows the powerful capability of INSAR for minor deformation detection even in rugged terrain.