The Use of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Images and Open-Source Software for Cultural Heritage: An Example from Paphos Area in Cyprus for Mapping Landscape Changes after a 5.6 Magnitude Earthquake

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Cyprus's Paphos region, captured via Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, revealed significant landscape changes with a maximum uplift of 74 mm and subsidence of 31 mm. This study demonstrates the potential of open-access Copernicus datasets and open-source software like SNAP and SNAPHU to monitor seismic impacts on cultural heritage sites, including those listed by UNESCO. By employing Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (D-InSAR), researchers mapped ground deformations triggered by the 2015 earthquake, offering a scalable approach for assessing geological risks in heritage-rich areas.

Tzouvaras, M., Kouhartsiouk, D., Agapiou, A., Danezis, C., & Hadjimitsis, D. G. (2019). The Use of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Images and Open-Source Software for Cultural Heritage: An Example from Paphos Area in Cyprus for Mapping Landscape Changes after a 5.6 Magnitude Earthquake. Remote Sensing, 11(15), 1766. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11151766