Ground Deformation from Meteorological, Seismic and Anthropogenic Changes Analysed by Remote Sensing, Geomatic Experiments and Extended Reality – GERMANE

Living Planet Fellowship research project carried out by Romy Schlögel and Karolina Owczarz.

Within this project we intend to analyse ground deformation hazards induced by meteorological changes and seismotectonic conditions in eastern Belgium, western Germany and the south-eastern Netherlands. Thus, its outcomes should also be of interest for the ongoing Interreg project Einstein Telescope EMR Site & Technology (E-TEST). Focus is on the differentiation of weather-induced and seismotectonically influenced Earth surface processes in the E-Test area where human-induced groundwater level changes are also observed. The regional aspect of ground deformation in the E-Test area would be approached by Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) processing. Detailed analyses will be performed along the numerous faults crossing the E-Test area. Differential ground deformation across fault structures should, however, be quite small, probably of the amount of a few millimetres. Such small displacements require extremely precise surveying, using InSAR studies supported by the installation of fixed corner reflectors. Also, repeated very high resolution (VHR) image and digital elevation model (DEM) will be collected using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles covering the whole potentially subsiding area is necessary (supported by ground-based measurements). In parallel, geodetic monitoring using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements on benchmarks as well as Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) monitoring to determine the meteorological conditions when increase of ground deformation observed.  The project also aims to develop a permanent monitoring system which would last after the duration of the project. Finally, we will develop models allowing us to manage and visualise (also in Extended Reality environments) the slow ground movements measured by remote sensing.

This Post-Doc project is perfectly complementing the current analyses -to be- done in the E-test area affected by seismicity and meteorological changes, its main goals are the following:

• Detect fine changes (in time and space) of ground displacement in space and time by using SAR technology;
• Differentiate local and regional ground uplift (related to different processes: volcanic, seismotectonic or anthropogenic), and sub-regional subsidence induced by groundwater level drawdown, possibly enhanced across fault structures;
• Identify and characterize faults, related ground deformation hazards (including karst formation) using combined geodetic, UAV and satellite remote sensing (and connected seismological) techniques;
• Integrate related results in a single model.

Indeed, karst phenomena strongly control the extent of construction in the target area – at least in the limestone regions; therefore, a major objective of this project is to detect of limestone and related karstification, especially along faults.

Scientific questions addressed by the project

Can we use SAR interferometry Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) method to detect small regional slope deformation in the vegetated BE-GE-NL transborder region?

Is possible to identify slope deformation induced by seismotectonic activities from weather-induced conditions through remote sensing analyses? Can we determine temporal patterns, anomalies and possible compound events in relationship with the occurrence of slope deformation processes?

Does combining seismological and remote sensing results in an integrated model in Virtual-Extended Reality helping to better understanding of the E-Test area contexts?

Conference papers:

• Schlögel R. GERMANE project perspective, ‘Geophysical and Remote Sensing’ working group round table, Second ET Industrial Advisory Board, October 8th 2021, Interface Entreprises-ULiège, Belgium.
• Schlögel R. Détection et surveillance de glissements de terrain par télédétection. GTEO, 17 March 2022, Bouge, Belgium. (www.gteo.be)
• Schlögel R. Technologies and challenges of remote sensing. ET2SMEs, 24 March 2022, Aachen, Germany. (https://et2smes.eu/technology-workshops/)
• Schlögel R., d’Oreye N., Orban A., Derauw D., Havenith H-B. and Hanssen R. Investigating ground deformation with InSAR methods in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine transborder region. ESA Living Planet Symposium 2022, Bonn.
• Piroton V., Emmer A., Schlögel R., Mergili M., Havenith H-B. Glacier retreat, lake evolution, and the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood of 2017 in the Sulzenau valley, Tyrol, Austria. ESA Living Planet Symposium 2022, Bonn.
• Hussain Y., Cauchie L., Schlögel R., Havenith H-B. Preliminary results presentation from the seismic geophysical campaigns (single station and array) in Belgian side of E-TEST area, on Site Studies and Characterization ET – Workshop, 8-11 November 2021, Sardinia, Italy.