Radar satellites have been collecting images of the earth surface since 1992.
These archives can be accessed and the data processed to map and measure ground and structure motion from the past.
Atlas InSAR technology can look back and tell where and by how much the ground has been moving across all the areas where images were acquired.
Atlas InSAR is the only technology that allows the understanding of historical ground and structure motion.
Measuring ground motion from space
Thanks to InSAR technology (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar), the Atlas satellite solution allows for millimetric-precision measurements of ground, buildings or construction sites.
Measurements obtained from satellite cover vast areas without an on-the-ground intervention.
They provide a detailed analysis of the deformations on the terrain, which can be due to works carried out on it or other such events, understanding of the impacted area.
Historical ground deformation and asset motion can be known thanks to SAR satellite images collected since early 1990s.
Space Agencies (ESA, JAXA, NASA amongst others) launched satellites with SAR sensors as early as 1990 and those satellites were active acquiring images worldwide, today Sixense can download and process those images from the past to precisely map and understand past ground and asset behaviour.
Moreover, since the last decade, available archives of High-Resolution satellite imagery of major cities enables measurement of pre-existing deformation in urban areas or of individual structures with high accuracy.
Understanding terrain behaviour for project planning and design
During the planning and design phase of any type of infrastructure, Atlas historical studies provide a retrospective mapping of deformations affecting the future construction site and a precise analysis of terrain dynamic evolution in time.
Atlas is an added value tool for site selection and characterisation prior to the commencement of the works.
Inventory of critical spots along large sites, such as linear infrastructure
Thanks to the large size of radar satellite images the Atlas InSAR solution is particularly suited to perform an inventory of critical spots affecting large linear infrastructures of several hundred kilometers such as railways, highways or pipelines.
Natural subsidence/heave, active slopes and areas prone to landlside are easily identified along the infrastructure and mitigative actions can be implemented.
Risk analysis, sustainability and urban planning
Atlas InSAR historical studies can be performed at regional scale anywhere, it is often used on large cities and municipalities.
On these occasions Atlas becomes a strategy tool for local authorities and land developers to understand zones at risk or experiencing vulnerabilities that may affect the city growth.
Situations such as: subsidence trigged by overexplotation of aquifers, areas of sedimental compaction, coastal erosion, flooding zones that may threaten integrity of infrastructure and community safety and more…
Atlas InSAR contributes to the implementation of strategic and sustainable territory development plans.
Optimisation and implementation of an efficient instrumentation plan
Atlas InSAR’s historical studies can be used to identify pre-exisiting ground deformations prior to construction works starting, thus permitting the optimisation of any ‘traditional’ real-time or manual monitoring regimes.
Atlas InSAR combined with Sixense expertise in ground Instrumentation, facilitates making tailored designs for each project and implement an effective and cost-saving ground sensor network.
Legal claims protection
Atlas InSAR historical studies make it possible to obtain a past ground motion map beyond the zone of influence (ZoI) and to identify infrastructures and buildings already affected by deformation prior the start of the works.
In many countries and for the last few years, Atlas InSAR has been used as an efficient tool against unjustified claims, providing unambiguous s evidence inlegal disputes.
Sixense teams support claims managers in the use of the data.
