On the integration of multi-temporal synthetic aperture radar interferometry products and historical surveys data for buildings structural monitoring

Abstract

The management and the safeguard of existing buildings and infrastructures are actual tasks for structural engineering. Non-invasive structural monitoring techniques can provide useful information for supporting the management process and the safety evaluation, reducing at once the impact of disturbances on the structure’s functionality. This paper focuses on the exploitation of advanced multi-temporal differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (DInSAR) products for the structural monitoring of buildings and infrastructures, subjected to different external actions. In this framework, a methodological approach is proposed, based on the integration of DInSAR measurements with historical sources, accurate 3D modelling and consistent positioning of the reflecting targets in the GIS environment. Documentary sources can prove particularly helpful in collecting technical information, to reconstruct an accurate 3D geometry of the building under monitoring, limiting in-situ surveys. The analysis of DInSAR-based displacements time series and mean deformation velocity values allows the identification of possible critical situations for buildings to be monitored. The paper presents different approaches, with increasing accuracy levels, to study the active deformative processes of the examined buildings and the related damage assessment. An insight into these interpretative approaches is given through the application of the proposed procedure to two case studies in the city of Rome (Italy), the residential building named Torri Stellari in Valco San Paolo (1951–1953) and the housing complex referred to as Corviale (1967–1983), by exploiting the whole COSMO-SkyMed data archive (both ascending and descending acquisitions), collected during the 2011–2019 time interval. Pros and cons of the various approaches are deeply discussed, together with an estimation of the required computational effort.

GIS Integration of DInSAR Measurements, Geological Investigation and Historical Surveys for the Structural Monitoring of Buildings and Infrastructures: An Application to the Valco San Paolo Urban Area of Rome

“…In the case of full resolution CSK SBAS-DInSAR processing, the precision of the PSs georeferencing can be assumed about 1-2 m, 2-3 m and 1-2 m in the North−South (N-S), East−West (E−W) and vertical (V) directions, respectively, corresponding to about one standard deviation. Further details can be found in Di Carlo et al [15] and Talledo et al [20].…”

“…A spatial resampling, starting from ASC and DES PSs sufficiently near to be representative with a good approximation of the same reflective target, is thus usually required to decompose the measured displacement along the vertical and E-W directions [12,40]. Continuous LOS mean velocity maps for each dataset can be obtained and projected on a defined grid to compute the vectors of the mean interpolated LOS velocities V LOS,ASC and V LOS,DES in each vertex of the grid [15]. The V and E-W components (V V and V E-W , respectively) of each point of the above-mentioned grid can therefore be evaluated with Equation (1).…”

“…The Marana watercourse crosses the Collector sewer with four tunnels of 1.80 m in diameter, passing through a bridge with four masonry arches and a two-story square control turret (Figure 4b). In particular, the study of the Torri Stellari complex focused on the available original design drawings and documentation collected in the archive of the architect Mario De Renzi (1897-1967), who elaborated the general plan and the execution design of the tower In particular, the study of the Torri Stellari complex focused on the available original design drawings and documentation collected in the archive of the architect Mario De Renzi (1897-1967), who elaborated the general plan and the execution design of the tower n. 1 [15]. The collections of the Genio Civile of Rome Archive proved to be an essential source for the technical characterization and the location of the hydraulic infrastructure.…”

“…Among others, different studies assessed the ground instabilities induced by subsidence on single constructions (e.g., [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]) or extended urban areas (e.g., [8][9][10]). Similarly, different works studied the urban area of Rome, investigating the effects of vertical settlements related to subsidence or excavations on single buildings (e.g., [11][12][13][14][15]) or extended areas (e.g., [16][17][18][19]). An overview of the potential and limitations of the use of satellite radar interferometry for the assessment and monitoring of existing structures can be found in Talledo et al [20], such as that the satellite data have been used to assess other external actions not related to subsidence (e.g., [21]).…”

Potential of remote sensing data to support the seismic safety assessment of reinforced concrete buildings affected by slow-moving landslides

“…Many methodologies and applications regarding the seismic assessment of existing RC buildings can be found in the national and international literature, aiming to investigate the different problematic aspects of this task, such as the choice of the proper modeling strategy and analysis methodology [1][2][3][4][5] and the consideration of the different source of uncertainties in the modeling phase [6][7][8]. Moreover, different studies evaluate the structural damage in the existing RC structures as consequence of displacements induced by landslides [9][10][11][12][13] or other hazard sources, such as subsidence [14,15], ground consolidation [16], mining activities [17], excavations [18], and variations in the temperature distribution in the structural elements [19], monitored through satellite data for consistent time intervals. In fact, all the mentioned hazard sources induce displacements quite slow in time in the existing buildings, which can be easily monitored through remote sensing techniques.…”