Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace

The Heifangtai Loess terrace in northwest China is frequently affected by landslides due to hydrological factors, establishing it as a significant research area for loess landslides. Advanced time-series InSAR technology facilitates the retrieval of surface deformation information, thereby aiding in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hao Xu, Bao Shu, Qin Zhang, Guohua Xiong, Li Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/3/429
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850199931621474304
author Hao Xu
Bao Shu
Qin Zhang
Guohua Xiong
Li Wang
author_facet Hao Xu
Bao Shu
Qin Zhang
Guohua Xiong
Li Wang
author_sort Hao Xu
collection DOAJ
description The Heifangtai Loess terrace in northwest China is frequently affected by landslides due to hydrological factors, establishing it as a significant research area for loess landslides. Advanced time-series InSAR technology facilitates the retrieval of surface deformation information, thereby aiding in the monitoring of landslide deformation status. However, existing methods that analyze deformation patterns do not fully exploit the displacement time series derived from InSAR, which hampers the exploration of potentially coexisting deformation patterns within the area. This study integrates InSAR with time-series clustering methods to reveal the surface deformation patterns and their spatial distribution characteristics in Heifangtai. Initially, utilizing the Sentinel-1 ascending and descending SAR data stack from January 2020 to June 2023, we optimize the interferometric phase based on distributed scatterer characteristics to reduce noise levels and obtain higher spatial density of measurement points. Subsequently, by combining the differential interferometric datasets from both ascending and descending orbits, the multidimensional small baseline subsets technique is employed to calculate the two-dimensional deformation time series. Finally, time-series clustering methods are utilized to extract the deformation patterns present and their spatial distribution from all measurement point time series. The results indicate that the deformation of the Heifangtai is primarily distributed around the surrounding area of the platform, with subsidence deformation being more intense than horizontal deformation. The entire terrace exhibits five deformation patterns: eastward subsidence, westward subsidence, vertical subsidence, westward movement, and eastward movement. The spatial distribution of these patterns suggests that the areas beneath the platform, namely Yanguoxia Town and Dangchuan Village, may be more susceptible to landslide threats in the future. Furthermore, wavelet analysis reveals the response relationship between rainfall and various deformation patterns, further enhancing the interpretability of these patterns. These findings hold significant implications for subsequent landslide monitoring, early warning, and risk prevention.
format Article
id doaj-art-d34e4fcf008049dea0ea9f2da92b0bea
institution OA Journals
issn 2072-4292
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-d34e4fcf008049dea0ea9f2da92b0bea2025-08-20T02:12:29ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-01-0117342910.3390/rs17030429Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess TerraceHao Xu0Bao Shu1Qin Zhang2Guohua Xiong3Li Wang4School of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaSchool of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaSchool of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaSecond Monitoring and Application Center, China Earthquake Administration, Xi’an 710054, ChinaSchool of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaThe Heifangtai Loess terrace in northwest China is frequently affected by landslides due to hydrological factors, establishing it as a significant research area for loess landslides. Advanced time-series InSAR technology facilitates the retrieval of surface deformation information, thereby aiding in the monitoring of landslide deformation status. However, existing methods that analyze deformation patterns do not fully exploit the displacement time series derived from InSAR, which hampers the exploration of potentially coexisting deformation patterns within the area. This study integrates InSAR with time-series clustering methods to reveal the surface deformation patterns and their spatial distribution characteristics in Heifangtai. Initially, utilizing the Sentinel-1 ascending and descending SAR data stack from January 2020 to June 2023, we optimize the interferometric phase based on distributed scatterer characteristics to reduce noise levels and obtain higher spatial density of measurement points. Subsequently, by combining the differential interferometric datasets from both ascending and descending orbits, the multidimensional small baseline subsets technique is employed to calculate the two-dimensional deformation time series. Finally, time-series clustering methods are utilized to extract the deformation patterns present and their spatial distribution from all measurement point time series. The results indicate that the deformation of the Heifangtai is primarily distributed around the surrounding area of the platform, with subsidence deformation being more intense than horizontal deformation. The entire terrace exhibits five deformation patterns: eastward subsidence, westward subsidence, vertical subsidence, westward movement, and eastward movement. The spatial distribution of these patterns suggests that the areas beneath the platform, namely Yanguoxia Town and Dangchuan Village, may be more susceptible to landslide threats in the future. Furthermore, wavelet analysis reveals the response relationship between rainfall and various deformation patterns, further enhancing the interpretability of these patterns. These findings hold significant implications for subsequent landslide monitoring, early warning, and risk prevention.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/3/429interferometric synthetic aperture radartime series clusteringHeifangtai loess landslidetwo-dimensional deformationwavelet analysis
spellingShingle Hao Xu
Bao Shu
Qin Zhang
Guohua Xiong
Li Wang
Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace
Remote Sensing
interferometric synthetic aperture radar
time series clustering
Heifangtai loess landslide
two-dimensional deformation
wavelet analysis
title Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace
title_full Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace
title_fullStr Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace
title_full_unstemmed Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace
title_short Combining InSAR and Time-Series Clustering to Reveal Deformation Patterns of the Heifangtai Loess Terrace
title_sort combining insar and time series clustering to reveal deformation patterns of the heifangtai loess terrace
topic interferometric synthetic aperture radar
time series clustering
Heifangtai loess landslide
two-dimensional deformation
wavelet analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/3/429
work_keys_str_mv AT haoxu combininginsarandtimeseriesclusteringtorevealdeformationpatternsoftheheifangtailoessterrace
AT baoshu combininginsarandtimeseriesclusteringtorevealdeformationpatternsoftheheifangtailoessterrace
AT qinzhang combininginsarandtimeseriesclusteringtorevealdeformationpatternsoftheheifangtailoessterrace
AT guohuaxiong combininginsarandtimeseriesclusteringtorevealdeformationpatternsoftheheifangtailoessterrace
AT liwang combininginsarandtimeseriesclusteringtorevealdeformationpatternsoftheheifangtailoessterrace