Digital Environment: Dynamic Ground Motion Map of the UK
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: School of Earth and Environment
Abstract
The ground surface in the UK is far from stable. For example, there are more that 15,000 recorded landslides in the UK, and the average annual cost of ground movement to the insurance industry is £250M. Landslides affecting critical infrastructure, such as mainline railways or dams, can be associated with multi-million pound remediation costs even for a single slope failure event. Furthermore, there are tens of thousands of kilometres of engineered slopes in our transportation, utilities and flood defence infrastructure networks - many of which were built in Victorian times and are in poor condition.
Satellite technology, specifically ESA's Sentinel-1 constellation, has the potential to produce a dynamic, high resolution map of ground motion which can be used for monitoring and planning. The proposed feasibility study will explore whether UK expertise can be used to integrate Sentinel-1 data with sensors on the ground and embedded in the built environment to contribute to the Digital Environment. The study will leverage existing RCUK investments, map the requirements of potential stakeholders and explore cutting edge approaches to data handling, analysis, fusion and decision making.
In addition to the core of InSAR experts, our team comprises a) specialists in image processing and machine learning, b) specialists in landslides, subsidence and onshore energy production and c) two knowledge exchange fellows. A wide-ranging network of potential stakeholders has already been identified, and our selected project partners (Environment Agency, Network Rail, TerraDat, Bridgeway Consulting) represent the needs of key governmental and commercial beneficiaries. The output of the feasibility study will be a peer-reviewed white paper detailing the requirements for a Sentinel-1 based UK ground motion map to be incorporated into a Digital Environment.
Satellite technology, specifically ESA's Sentinel-1 constellation, has the potential to produce a dynamic, high resolution map of ground motion which can be used for monitoring and planning. The proposed feasibility study will explore whether UK expertise can be used to integrate Sentinel-1 data with sensors on the ground and embedded in the built environment to contribute to the Digital Environment. The study will leverage existing RCUK investments, map the requirements of potential stakeholders and explore cutting edge approaches to data handling, analysis, fusion and decision making.
In addition to the core of InSAR experts, our team comprises a) specialists in image processing and machine learning, b) specialists in landslides, subsidence and onshore energy production and c) two knowledge exchange fellows. A wide-ranging network of potential stakeholders has already been identified, and our selected project partners (Environment Agency, Network Rail, TerraDat, Bridgeway Consulting) represent the needs of key governmental and commercial beneficiaries. The output of the feasibility study will be a peer-reviewed white paper detailing the requirements for a Sentinel-1 based UK ground motion map to be incorporated into a Digital Environment.
Planned Impact
This feasibility study will generate a peer-reviewed white paper detailing how a satellite-derived ground motion map could be incorporated into the UK's Digital Environment. The white paper will describe the technical requirements for the sensor network(s) and assess the necessary developments in infrastructure, technology and data handling methods to form a coherent data chain from collection to delivery. The white paper will form a platform for future development, which will have impact for all the beneficiaries (policy makers and regulators, major infrastructure companies, geotechnical service companies, satellite services industry, academic researchers and the public).
Furthermore, the feasibility study will assemble multidisciplinary team across academic, government and industry that we anticipate will take leading roles in developing this component of the Digital Environment. 1) It will bring together a diverse project team from the Science and Engineering faculties at the Universities of Bristol and Leeds with the Geophysical Tomography and Earth Observation Teams at the British Geological Survey. 2) The project team will interact with a range of stakeholders, including the project partners (Environment Agency, Network Rail, SatSense, TerraDat, Bridgeway Consulting).
Specifically, the feasibility study will consider the following areas as outlined in the call:
- Sensor network requirements
The white paper will consider the necessary resolution, accuracy and frequency of dynamic updating required to monitor each of the sources of ground motion listed in section 2, in the context of current and future stakeholder requirements. It will also consider how satellite data could be best integrated with other surface and subsurface networks to address these requirements.
- Infrastructure for the development of a digital environment
The white paper will consider the necessary processing and storage facilities and access portals required to maintain a near-real time data source with reliable access. In particular, it will assess whether the CEMS Facility operated by the Satellite Applications Catapult would be appropriate or if a commercial cloud computing facility would be more suitable.
- Technological approaches or tools to deal with, manage and manipulate the vast volumes of data collected from sensors and the use of the current and/or forthcoming data and computer science techniques to enable access to multiple data streams and delivery of data
Earth Observation satellite technology is advancing rapidly and Sentinel-1 offers a step change in the quantity and reliability of data provision. The white paper will assess the requirements for monitoring UK ground motion to provide recommendations for current and future satellite missions. It will consider the latest in ground-based sensor technology and how best these could be integrated with satellite observations within the framework of the digital environment. We will also consider current and forthcoming data science techniques for handling, feature extraction, data fusion and decision making techniques for handling the huge data volumes involved.
- How these developments could be used effectively by government, businesses and communities/individuals
The white paper will map the network of potential stakeholders and outline their interests and requirements based on the stakeholder analysis.
Furthermore, the feasibility study will assemble multidisciplinary team across academic, government and industry that we anticipate will take leading roles in developing this component of the Digital Environment. 1) It will bring together a diverse project team from the Science and Engineering faculties at the Universities of Bristol and Leeds with the Geophysical Tomography and Earth Observation Teams at the British Geological Survey. 2) The project team will interact with a range of stakeholders, including the project partners (Environment Agency, Network Rail, SatSense, TerraDat, Bridgeway Consulting).
Specifically, the feasibility study will consider the following areas as outlined in the call:
- Sensor network requirements
The white paper will consider the necessary resolution, accuracy and frequency of dynamic updating required to monitor each of the sources of ground motion listed in section 2, in the context of current and future stakeholder requirements. It will also consider how satellite data could be best integrated with other surface and subsurface networks to address these requirements.
- Infrastructure for the development of a digital environment
The white paper will consider the necessary processing and storage facilities and access portals required to maintain a near-real time data source with reliable access. In particular, it will assess whether the CEMS Facility operated by the Satellite Applications Catapult would be appropriate or if a commercial cloud computing facility would be more suitable.
- Technological approaches or tools to deal with, manage and manipulate the vast volumes of data collected from sensors and the use of the current and/or forthcoming data and computer science techniques to enable access to multiple data streams and delivery of data
Earth Observation satellite technology is advancing rapidly and Sentinel-1 offers a step change in the quantity and reliability of data provision. The white paper will assess the requirements for monitoring UK ground motion to provide recommendations for current and future satellite missions. It will consider the latest in ground-based sensor technology and how best these could be integrated with satellite observations within the framework of the digital environment. We will also consider current and forthcoming data science techniques for handling, feature extraction, data fusion and decision making techniques for handling the huge data volumes involved.
- How these developments could be used effectively by government, businesses and communities/individuals
The white paper will map the network of potential stakeholders and outline their interests and requirements based on the stakeholder analysis.
Organisations
Publications
Anantrasirichai N
(2021)
Detecting Ground Deformation in the Built Environment Using Sparse Satellite InSAR Data With a Convolutional Neural Network
in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Biggs J
(2020)
How satellite InSAR has grown from opportunistic science to routine monitoring over the last decade.
in Nature communications
Kelevitz K
(2022)
Ground and Satellite-Based Methods of Measuring Deformation at a UK Landslide Observatory: Comparison and Integration
in Remote Sensing
Kelevitz K
(2022)
Novel Corner-Reflector Array Application in Essential Infrastructure Monitoring
in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Martin G
(2022)
Blind Source Separation for MT-InSAR Analysis With Structural Health Monitoring Applications
in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
Sadeghi Z
(2021)
Benchmarking and inter-comparison of Sentinel-1 InSAR velocities and time series
in Remote Sensing of Environment
| Description | - With the advances of ESA's Sentinel-1 InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission there are freely available remote sensing ground deformation observations all over the globe that allows continuous monitoring of natural hazards and structural instabilities. The Digital Environment initiative aims to include these remote sensing data in the effort of forecasting and mitigating hazards across the UK. - We have developed and tested an independent and robust methodology for assessment of different InSAR processing results. This is useful as different InSAR algorithms and methods produce velocities and times series that are not identical, even using the same data for the same area. - We have looked at the Hollin Hill landslide in North Yorkshire as a case study where a variety of ground-based geophysical measurements are available for comparison with InSAR data. The Hollin Hill landslide observatory is used by the British Geological Survey in their efforts to understand landslide processes, and to trial new technologies and methodologies for slope stability characterisation and monitoring. We use Sentinel-1 InSAR data acquired between Oct 2015 and Jan 2019 to study the behaviour of this landslide. The InSAR measurements also highlight the seasonal behaviour of this landslide. - We assessed the feasibility of using remote sensing, in particular Sentinel-1 InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) data to monitor ground displacements over the UK and its benefits and suitability for the 2020 NERC Digital Environment Call. Different sources of ground motion that we discuss include subsidence and uplift due to active and historical coal mines, shrink and swell, landslides, karst features such as sinkholes, and other manmade sources such as tunneling. When these manmade and natural activities cause significant ground deformation on the surface, they can be measured remotely using the Sentinel-1 InSAR acquisitions that are available in the UK every 6 days in 4 different geometries. We studied examples of these InSAR measurements and assessed their advantages in monitoring the various ground deformation sources and their limitations due to spatial and temporal resolution and land coverage. - Up to now, many different InSAR time-series approaches have been developed to improve the performance in extracting deformation signals from noisy InSAR data. The products of different InSAR algorithms and methods are not identical, even using the same data for the same area. Due to the widespread availability of Sentinel-1 SAR data and a suite of new algorithms in the commercial and academic sectors, we focused on developing and testing an independent and robust methodology for assessment of different InSAR processing results using Sentinel-1. Our proposed method was adapted from the Terrafirma Process Validation project proposed by European Space Agency (ESA) and addressed the limitation of previous validation studies. We used Sentinel-1 data from an area in Glasgow (UK) processed using 4 different InSAR approaches. The results showed that Sentinel-1 InSAR provides comparable results that are independent of processing approaches. However, there are considerable differences in some aspects of the results, in particular in their density and coverage of measurement points. We discussed the main similarities and differences and reasons for these differences. We also suggested a framework for validation that could be used in future national or pan-national ground motion services. |
| Exploitation Route | - With the widespread availability of Sentinel-1 radar data and a suite of new algorithms in the commercial and academic sectors, it is timely to develop a method for comparison of different results. Inconsistency can cause confusion and be a barrier to uptake and widespread use of the data in the commercial sector. - In order to be able to include Sentinel-1 data in the UK's Digital Environment it is important to understand the advantages and limitations of these observations and interpret them appropriately. - We assessed the effect of installing corner reflectors on the Hollin Hill landslide, which has wide-ranging implications in natural hazard monitoring in the UK. - Our presented inter-comparison approach helps the InSAR users to do a fair comparison between the available data sets for their specific case studies. Also the results and discussions of our inter-comparison test using some qualitative and quantitative metric can motivate and be an input for InSAR time series developing activities. - A European Ground Motion Service (EU-GMS) is under development, by the European Environment Agency to provide consistent, regular, standardised, harmonised and reliable information on ground motion over Europe and across national borders, with millimetre accuracy. The ground motion results will be derived from time series analyses of Sentinel-1 data, most likely using different PS and DS InSAR approaches by multiple suppliers. Our InSAR data consistency assessment and recommendations about quantitative and qualitative indices can be helpful for the EU-GMS national/international ground motion services. We also proposed a validation process for any future national and international ground motion service to ensure meeting the minimum standards and consistency across the borders. - As a next step, we suggested testing our methodology for a network of test sites with a range of different deformation types in which independent data e.g. dense permanent networks of GNSS and levelling measurement should be available. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Two of the available InSAR data for the inter-comparison activity were provided by commercial companies: SatSense, using a modified RapidSAR algorithm (https://www.satsense.com) and TRE-ALTAMIRA, using the SqueeSAR algorithm (https://site.tre-altamira.com). The results of our consistency assessment helped the InSAR providers to benefit from understanding how the results of their analyses differ from others and so that they can improve their methodology/products. We have worked on a novel design for radar corner reflectors. SatSense Ltd have taken our prototype and developed a commercial version of this. |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Application of satellite technology in infrastructure monitoring (Digital Engineering) |
| Amount | £134,290 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Digital Environment Stakeholder Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We held a stakeholder workshop in Bristol in November 2019 to discuss the findings of this project with InSAR providers and users, academic representatives, industry representatives, and other interested parties The main goal of this meeting was to explore how existing satellite networks (i.e. InSAR) could be used to address environmental challenges posed by ground motion in the UK due to range of sources. Participants of this stakeholder meeting included members of the project from the University of Leeds and University of Bristol, as well as representatives of companies from the UK and Europe delivering InSAR related products. The deliverables of this stakeholder engagement was to determine the needs/wish list of a range of industries to understand whether a resource is required and what type of data/tools are needed. We had two lightning talks to discuss the sources of deformations in the UK, assessment of InSAR capability and our strategy/needs to develop a fair and robust methodology for assessment of different InSAR processing chains. We also presented three posters based on our results up to that stage. We were also involved in some discussion groups with relevant topics to our research e.g. What is the requirement of the stakeholders and current capabilities? how InSAR providers demonstrate the reliability of their data? What might a UK deformation service look like? The discussions with the stakeholders helped to provide input into the research that prioritised for the demonstrator phase. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |