A Comparative study of radar and optical imagery in estimating ground displacement fields (study area: Maraghe)

Zamany, Leily; Djamour, Yahya; Milan, Asghar

doi:10.22061/jrsgr.2026.12701.1117

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Department of Surveying Engineering, Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22061/jrsgr.2026.12701.1117

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The phenomenon of ground surface displacement—particularly subsidence and horizontal movement—is one of the most significant environmental and geotechnical threats in many regions of the world, including Iran. Therefore, accurate monitoring and measurement of these displacements are of great importance. In recent years, the application of remote sensing technologies such as radar interferometry (InSAR) and offset tracking has made remarkable progress. Additionally, optical imagery and UAV (drone) data have enabled the reconstruction of 3D models and the extraction of surface deformation patterns. However, most previous studies have utilized only one of these techniques, and few have focused on integrating radar and optical data. Accordingly, the main objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive investigation of ground displacement fields through the integration of radar and optical imagery.
Methods: Five villages-Bolbol, Joko, Tazehkand Nasirpour, Bali Qaya, and Lalehzar, located in the southeastern region of Maragheh County, were selected as study areas to allow the assessment of displacement behavior across different land types (residential/urban and flat/rural areas). Ground displacement was analyzed using two distinct approaches: vertical displacement (subsidence/uplift) and horizontal displacement. The analyses were based on average deformation values within the two major land categories. Three complementary techniques were employed: radar interferometry (InSAR), offset tracking, and optical photogrammetry using 3D model reconstruction. In the interferometry technique, seven Sentinel-1 radar images with approximately three-month intervals were collected and processed. Similarly, seven radar images were processed for offset tracking, resulting in a total of twelve radar-based analyses. Furthermore, four series of drone images (Mavic 3) were captured and processed at approximately four-month intervals.
Findings: In the vertical displacement analysis, the greatest subsidence occurred in Lalehzar Village, where ground elevation decreased by approximately 13–15 cm in residential/urban areas and 12–14 cm in flat terrains. This level of subsidence is likely related to excessive groundwater extraction and the unique geological conditions of the region. Conversely, the lowest subsidence was recorded in Bali Qaya Village, with changes of about 2–3 cm in residential areas and around 7 cm in flat regions. Regarding horizontal displacement, the highest value was observed in Bolbol Village, with movements of about 5–6 mm in flat terrains and 1.8–2.1 mm in residential areas. The lowest horizontal displacement was found in Bali Qaya Village, where horizontal shifts were less than 1.5 mm in residential areas and about 4 mm in flat terrains.
Conclusion: Overall comparison between the methods indicates that, although the displacement trends observed by both approaches are nearly identical—and both successfully identify the same regions with maximum and minimum displacement—the numerical values differ slightly in some cases. These discrepancies can be attributed to each method’s sensitivity to different displacement types (vertical or horizontal), imaging conditions, and processing algorithms. In general, the combined use of radar and optical approaches provides a more comprehensive understanding of surface deformation patterns and significantly enhances the accuracy of decision-making in resource management, subsidence monitoring, and urban planning.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Geodesy

COPYRIGHTS
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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Journal of Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Research

A Comparative study of radar and optical imagery in estimating ground displacement fields (study area: Maraghe)

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 June 2026

A Comparative study of radar and optical imagery in estimating ground displacement fields (study area: Maraghe)

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 22 June 2026

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 June 2026