Recommendations for long-term operational dinsar monitoring of mining-induced deformation in a dynamic agricultural region

Underground mining activities are associated with the potential for surface deformation. DInSAR techniques are known for its ability to successfully measure and monitor deforming areas. However, the limitations associated with this technology are mostly related to signal decorrelation effects which are introduced as a result of the surface and sensor characteristics. In this paper we examine the operational limitations of this technology in the presence of disturbances to the reflected signals, due to the dynamic agricultural nature of the sites under test. Three sources of SAR data captured at X-band, C-band and L-band respectively was considered. The results revealed that changes in the vegetative conditions affected C- and X-band data (as might be expected) more severely, although changes in surface conditions induced by tilling and harvesting also affected L-band data. C-band data could not measure deformation maxima whilst L-band data showed reduced sensitivity to deformation minima.