Monitoring of Structural Changes by Radar Interferometry

Abstract In this paper we report the results of a feasibility test on the applicability of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry for monitoring structural changes. The experiment was performed in a controlled environment on an artificial target made up of reinforced concrete elements. SAR imaging techniques allow the mapping of the object under test with a spatial resolution in the order of a few centimeters while the use of differential interferometric techniques allow the measurements of the displacement of each pixel in the image with an accuracy in the order of a small fraction of the wavelength of the radiation used. The achieved results validate the technique as a useful tool that may complement optical or in situ measurement techniques for such industrial applications as monitoring of large man-made structures.