A Critical Analysis to Generate Change Detection Map using SAR Interferometry for Land Subsidence Monitoring of New Orleans City of USA

Present paper aims to critically analyze and study the SAR interferometric RADARSAT-1 data for land subsidence monitoring system for New Orleans USA, using Differential SAR Interferometry (D-InSAR) approach. In Louisiana, areas along the coast are sinking as much as one inch a year, and New Orleans is among the worst affected area due to land subsidence. For mapping subsidence, 84 complex data sets from April 15, 2002 to March 15, 2007 were available. Out of this, we have chosen six sets of suitable differential interferometric pairs with approximately one year of temporal span and six interferometric pairs to provide DEM generation for the above differential pairs. In this paper, change detection due to surface deformation is identified using D-InSAR methodology and is compared with classical change detection approach using MRD (mean ratio detector). Results show that subsidence was widespread throughout New Orleans, with maximum subsidence near MRGO canal in period of March 01, 2005 to April 1, 2006.