InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida

Abstract This study utilizes Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to examine subsidence along the coastal strip of the Miami barrier islands from 2016 to 2023. Using Sentinel‐1 data, we document vertical displacements ranging from 2 to 8 cm, affecting a total of 35 coastal buildings and...

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Main Authors: Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani, Falk Amelung, Andreas Piter, Khaled Sobhan, Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati, Gregor P. Eberli, Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi, Mahdi Motagh, Pietro Milillo, Sara Mirzaee, Antonio Nanni, Esber Andiroglu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2024-12-01
Series:Earth and Space Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003852
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author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani
Falk Amelung
Andreas Piter
Khaled Sobhan
Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati
Gregor P. Eberli
Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi
Mahdi Motagh
Pietro Milillo
Sara Mirzaee
Antonio Nanni
Esber Andiroglu
author_facet Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani
Falk Amelung
Andreas Piter
Khaled Sobhan
Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati
Gregor P. Eberli
Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi
Mahdi Motagh
Pietro Milillo
Sara Mirzaee
Antonio Nanni
Esber Andiroglu
author_sort Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study utilizes Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to examine subsidence along the coastal strip of the Miami barrier islands from 2016 to 2023. Using Sentinel‐1 data, we document vertical displacements ranging from 2 to 8 cm, affecting a total of 35 coastal buildings and their vicinity. About half of the subsiding structures are younger than 2014 and at the majority of them subsidence decays with time. This correlation suggests that the subsidence is related to construction activities. In northern and central Sunny Isles Beach, where 23% of coastal structures were built during the last decade, nearly 70% are experiencing subsidence. The majority of the older subsiding structures show sudden onset or sudden acceleration of subsidence, suggesting that this is due to construction activities in their vicinity; we have identified subsidence at distance of 200 m, possibly up to 320 m, from construction sites. We attribute the observed subsidence to load‐induced, prolonged creep deformation of the sandy layers within the limestone, which is accelerated, if not instigated, by construction activities. Distant subsidence from a construction site could indicate extended sandy deposits. Anthropogenic and natural groundwater movements could also be driving the creep deformation. This study demonstrates that high‐rise construction on karstic barrier islands can induce creep deformation in sandy layer within the limestone succession persisting for a decade or longer. It showcases the potential of InSAR technology for monitoring both building settlement and structural stability.
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issn 2333-5084
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
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spelling doaj-art-d8de22266eeb4e11ab86693b606d7b8d2025-08-20T02:10:17ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Earth and Space Science2333-50842024-12-011112n/an/a10.1029/2024EA003852InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, FloridaFarzaneh Aziz Zanjani0Falk Amelung1Andreas Piter2Khaled Sobhan3Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati4Gregor P. Eberli5Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi6Mahdi Motagh7Pietro Milillo8Sara Mirzaee9Antonio Nanni10Esber Andiroglu11Deparment of Marine Geoscience, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric and Earth Science University of Miami Miami FL USADeparment of Marine Geoscience, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric and Earth Science University of Miami Miami FL USALeibniz University Hannover Institute of Photogrammetry and Geoinformation Hannover GermanyDepartment of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatics Engineering Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton FL USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Houston Houston TX USADeparment of Marine Geoscience, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric and Earth Science University of Miami Miami FL USALeibniz University Hannover Institute of Photogrammetry and Geoinformation Hannover GermanyLeibniz University Hannover Institute of Photogrammetry and Geoinformation Hannover GermanyDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Houston Houston TX USACalifornia Institute of Technology (Caltech) Pasadena CA USADepartment of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering University of Miami Miami FL USADepartment of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering University of Miami Miami FL USAAbstract This study utilizes Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to examine subsidence along the coastal strip of the Miami barrier islands from 2016 to 2023. Using Sentinel‐1 data, we document vertical displacements ranging from 2 to 8 cm, affecting a total of 35 coastal buildings and their vicinity. About half of the subsiding structures are younger than 2014 and at the majority of them subsidence decays with time. This correlation suggests that the subsidence is related to construction activities. In northern and central Sunny Isles Beach, where 23% of coastal structures were built during the last decade, nearly 70% are experiencing subsidence. The majority of the older subsiding structures show sudden onset or sudden acceleration of subsidence, suggesting that this is due to construction activities in their vicinity; we have identified subsidence at distance of 200 m, possibly up to 320 m, from construction sites. We attribute the observed subsidence to load‐induced, prolonged creep deformation of the sandy layers within the limestone, which is accelerated, if not instigated, by construction activities. Distant subsidence from a construction site could indicate extended sandy deposits. Anthropogenic and natural groundwater movements could also be driving the creep deformation. This study demonstrates that high‐rise construction on karstic barrier islands can induce creep deformation in sandy layer within the limestone succession persisting for a decade or longer. It showcases the potential of InSAR technology for monitoring both building settlement and structural stability.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003852InSARsubsidenceconstructions activitiesMiamiFloridasettlement of buildings
spellingShingle Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani
Falk Amelung
Andreas Piter
Khaled Sobhan
Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati
Gregor P. Eberli
Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi
Mahdi Motagh
Pietro Milillo
Sara Mirzaee
Antonio Nanni
Esber Andiroglu
InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida
Earth and Space Science
InSAR
subsidence
constructions activities
Miami
Florida
settlement of buildings
title InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida
title_full InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida
title_fullStr InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida
title_full_unstemmed InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida
title_short InSAR Observations of Construction‐Induced Coastal Subsidence on Miami's Barrier Islands, Florida
title_sort insar observations of construction induced coastal subsidence on miami s barrier islands florida
topic InSAR
subsidence
constructions activities
Miami
Florida
settlement of buildings
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003852
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