Adding New Information Content to GNSS Measurements by SAR Data Processing in Studying a Landslide

The availability of verified information concerning hazardous geo-processes is of prime importance in monitoring active or potential landslides since they largely affect human lives, infrastructure, and ecological status. Based on data from the Bulgarian national authority in charge of inventories, the landslides number has been constantly increasing since the past decade due to natural phenomena and human activities. Hence, it is necessary to establish a reliable procedure for operational monitoring. In this paper, a procedure is proposed for tracking landslide dynamics based on combining the advantages offered by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements and the information derived from interferometric images produced from Synthesized Aperture Radar (SAR) processing. The latter provides the possibility to register the earth’s crust deformations with a magnitude of centimeters. This study covers the landslide area named Trifon Zarezan situated at the Bulgarian Northeast Black Sea Coast. The obtained results can be used as an additional source of information on ground deformations in active ground zones by a large number of local stakeholders, e.g. construction or utility companies.