MODULATE (MOnitoring lanDslides with mUltiplatform L-Band rAdar TEchniques)

MODULATE is designed to assess how L-band radar systems can complement existing approaches to slope monitoring in complex alpine environments.

Its main goals are to identify current shortcomings of C-band SAR interferometry (such as the results obtained from the ESA Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission), to analyse the added value and limitations of L-band systems in preparation for the recently launched NISAR (NASA-ISRO) and the upcoming ESA ROSE-L mission.

The project involves close collaboration with local and national authorities in Lombardy (Italy), Canton Ticino, and Canton Grisons (Switzerland), who provide in-situ data and support the evaluation and validation of L-Band products.

Final goal of the project is to define guidelines for the use of radar datasets in different phases of monitoring workflows, and to support the development of interpretation strategies helping local and regional stakeholders make informed decisions based on satellite observations.

Outreach

• Tazio Strozzi, Rafael Caduff, Othmar Frey, Philipp Bernhard, Urs Wegmüller, Federico Agliardi, Alessandro De Pedrini, Christian Ambrosi, and Andrea Manconi. Monitoring Landslides with Multiplatform L-Band Radar Techniques. Poster presentation at the Living Planet Symposium 2025, Session C.03.01 – The Sentinel User Preparation Initiative for High-Priority Applications, 23 June 2025.

• Federico Agliardi, Tazio Strozzi, Cristina Reyes-Carmona, Katy Burrows, Rafael Caduff, Othmar Frey, Philipp Bernhard, Urs Wegmüller, Andrea Manconi, Christian Ambrosi, and Alessandro De Pedrini. Understanding the Complexity of Large Alpine Slope Instabilities at Mt. Mater (Valle Spluga, Italy) Using Multiplatform and Multifrequency InSAR. Poster presentation at the Living Planet Symposium 2025, Session B.04.01 – Satellite Based Terrain Motion Mapping for Better Understanding Geohazards, 24 June 2025.

• Alessandro De Pedrini, Christian Ambrosi, Andrea Manconi, Federico Agliardi, Rafael Caduff, Othmar Frey, Philipp Bernhard, and Tazio Strozzi. Satellite and Terrestrial L-Band Radar Interferometry in Alpine Environment: Insights from Slope Instabilities in Val Canaria (Switzerland). Poster presentation at the Living Planet Symposium 2025, Session B.04.01 – Satellite Based Terrain Motion Mapping for Better Understanding Geohazards, 24 June 2025.

• Tazio Strozzi, Rafael Caduff, Philipp Bernhard, Othmar Frey, Urs Wegmüller, Andrea Manconi, Federico Agliardi, Alessandro De Pedrini, and Christian Ambrosi. Integration of Multi-Sensor L-Band DInSAR Surface Motion Products for Landslide Monitoring. Oral presentation at IGARSS 2025, Session TU4.M4 – DInSAR Applications I, 5 August 2025.

• Satellite Radars Reveal Early Signs of Slope Instability Years Before Blatten Rock/Ice Avalanche. EO Science for Society News, 8 August 2025. https://eo4society.esa.int/2025/08/08/satellite-radars-reveal-early-signs-of-slope-instability-years-before-blatten-rock-ice-avalanche.

• Andrea Manconi et al. Early Detection of Slope Instability with Satellite Radars Before Blatten Rock/Ice Avalanche. Abstract submitted to the International Mountain Conference #IMC25, Session WS 3.133 – The Avalanche Disaster in Blatten, 14–18 September 2025, Innsbruck, Austria.

Publications

• T. Strozzi, R. Caduff, P. Bernhard, O. Frey, U. Wegmüller, A. Manconi, F. Agliardi, A. De Pedrini, and C. Ambrosi. Integration of Multi-Sensor L-Band DInSAR Surface Motion Products for Landslide Monitoring. Proceedings of IGARSS 2025, Brisbane, Australia, 2025, pp. 9095–9098.