COSMOSkyMed – Descending – Monitoring of deformations to the ground via satellite interferometry

The Lazio Region, as part of its institutional activities, through the CERI research centre of the University La Sapienza of Rome, has carried out a satellite radar monitoring of land deformations. The main objective of this activity was to provide an overview of the land deformations present in the region with the use of interferometric satellite radar data purchased from ESA’s constellation Sentinel-1 (European Space Agency). It consists of 2 twin satellites (Sentinel 1A and Sentinel 1B) equipped with SAR sensors (Synthetic Aperture Radar) in C band, which capture images with a spatial resolution of 5 m x 20 m. In addition, for some small areas investigated in greater detail, the results are also provided from the analysis of SAR images from the constellation COSMO-SkyMed[1] (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation), the first space program for dual applications (institutional/commercial and military) designed and funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Ministry of Defence. The COSMO-SkyMed satellites are equipped with SAR sensors that capture X-band images, with a spatial resolution 3 m x 3 m. Both satellite systems (Sentinel-1 and COSMO-SkyMed) acquire in ascending mode (abbreviation “asc” in file names) when the orbit is traveled from S to N, and in descending mode with travel from N to S (abbreviation “desc” in file names). [1] Product processed by CERI under a license of the Italian Space Agency (ASI); Original COSMO-SkyMed Product – ©ASI – (2022)