Land Subsidence in Coastal Environments: Knowledge Advance in the Venice Coastland by TerraSAR-X PSI

Advanced satellite-based monitoring reveals millimeter-scale precision in measuring land subsidence in Venice's coastal environment, offering unprecedented insights into both natural and human-induced factors driving ground movement. The study leverages TerraSAR-X Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI), a technique that combines high spatial resolution (3 meters) with short repeat intervals (11 days), to track subsidence across the Venice Lagoon, including its historical center, salt marshes, and areas affected by infrastructure projects like the MoSE barrier. By analyzing data from 2008–2013, researchers achieved vertical accuracy down to the millimeter, even for short-term observations spanning just one year. This breakthrough enhances understanding of subsidence dynamics in Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site vulnerable to environmental and anthropogenic pressures.

Tosi, L., Lio, C. D., Teatini, P., & Strozzi, T. (2018). Land Subsidence in Coastal Environments: Knowledge Advance in the Venice Coastland by TerraSAR-X PSI. Remote Sensing, 10(8), 1191. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10081191