INTERGEO Agenda - english

Destructive ground movements caused by tunnel construction, legacy mining, and climate change are gradual processes that often have massive consequences. When infrastructure—from railroad embankments and highway sections to entire city neighbourhoods—is affected, we face more than just structural damage and restrictions on use. We are confronted with the question of responsibility and liability: Who bears the (financial) responsibility when critical infrastructure is damaged or fails unexpectedly? In practice, action is often not taken until the first cracks are already visible. But by that point, repair costs and legal risks have already risen dramatically. How can we proactively address these complex risks and clarify liability issues before significant damage occurs? The answer lies in precise spatiotemporal monitoring. In this presentation, we’ll use concrete real-world examples (Munich, Essen, Hamburg, …) to show how we can measure ground movements from space early and reliably. You’ll learn how high-resolution InSAR measurements are actively used in practice to monitor induced ground movements, safely support construction projects, and protect the integrity of infrastructure based on data.