Remote sensing-based deformation monitoring of pagodas at the Bagan cultural heritage site, Myanmar

A study employing high-resolution TerraSAR-X imagery identified millimetric-scale deformation hotspots and displacement anomalies in pagodas at the Bagan World Heritage site, linking them to land cover changes and seismic activity. By combining small baseline subset (SBAS) and persistent scatterer synthetic aperture radar interferometry (PSInSAR), researchers achieved precise monitoring across both landscape and monument scales—critical for heritage protection and sustainable development. This non-contact method offers a robust alternative where traditional field-based surveillance is limited, providing valuable insights into the structural stability of this culturally significant site.

Chen, F., Zhou, W., Tang, Y., Li, R., Lin, H., Balz, T., Luo, J., Shi, P., Zhu, M., & Fang, C. (2022). Remote sensing-based deformation monitoring of pagodas at the Bagan cultural heritage site, Myanmar. International Journal of Digital Earth, 15(1), 770–788. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2022.2062466