9.2 Modern Methods
127
Figure 9.4 (left) depicts a raw InSAR image of a mining dump impinging on a
pond (black rectangle). Figure 9.4 (right) shows the topographic surface variations
over a period of two months. In this case a deformation of 25 mm over two months
was picked-up by means of space observation in an area where no other instrumentation was present. Based on experience, it is obvious that even the most skilled
inspector would have missed that deformation during a standard inspection, should
successive inspections have occurred at the same frequency. In a modern quantitative
risk assessment (QRA) that deformation impacts a number of diagnostic nodes (see
Chap. 11, Sect. 11.2.3) and alters the probability of failure of that slope, possibly
triggering an early alert.
Optical Observations
There are a multitude of optical satellite systems available for monitoring large
areas and small scales to very high resolution. From the Landsat series of satellites
supported by the United States Geological Service to the high resolution sensors from
Maxar’s Digital Globe, optical satellites provide images of the planet in visible and
Fig. 9.4 Left: raw InSAR image of a dump impinging on a pond. Right: the ellipse encircles a
zone of vertical settlement (0–25 mm) which appeared over a two-month period. © 2018 Maxar
Technologies Ltd., and third parties whose content has been used by permission. All rights reserved.
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © Maxar Technologies Ltd. (2007–2018). All Rights Reserved.
RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency
127
Figure 9.4 (left) depicts a raw InSAR image of a mining dump impinging on a
pond (black rectangle). Figure 9.4 (right) shows the topographic surface variations
over a period of two months. In this case a deformation of 25 mm over two months
was picked-up by means of space observation in an area where no other instrumentation was present. Based on experience, it is obvious that even the most skilled
inspector would have missed that deformation during a standard inspection, should
successive inspections have occurred at the same frequency. In a modern quantitative
risk assessment (QRA) that deformation impacts a number of diagnostic nodes (see
Chap. 11, Sect. 11.2.3) and alters the probability of failure of that slope, possibly
triggering an early alert.
Optical Observations
There are a multitude of optical satellite systems available for monitoring large
areas and small scales to very high resolution. From the Landsat series of satellites
supported by the United States Geological Service to the high resolution sensors from
Maxar’s Digital Globe, optical satellites provide images of the planet in visible and
Fig. 9.4 Left: raw InSAR image of a dump impinging on a pond. Right: the ellipse encircles a
zone of vertical settlement (0–25 mm) which appeared over a two-month period. © 2018 Maxar
Technologies Ltd., and third parties whose content has been used by permission. All rights reserved.
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © Maxar Technologies Ltd. (2007–2018). All Rights Reserved.
RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency