Using InSAR to Combat Erosion and Landslides
Isle of Wight - United Kingdom
Highlights
The Isle of Wight’s soft cliffs face growing erosion, threatening infrastructure and increasing landslide risks. With roads, homes, and utilities at stake, urgent monitoring and mitigation are essential.
Understanding the Challenge: Coastal Erosion and Lack of Historical Data
The Isle of Wight's coastal erosion is accelerating due to climate change, threatening cliffs and infrastructure. Traditional monitoring was impractical due to cost, limited coverage, and missing historical data. A scalable solution was urgently needed.
Leveraging InSAR for Ground Movement Analysis
A key advantage of InSAR is its ability to analyse past satellite images, creating a time series of ground movement. This helped stakeholders track long-term cliff retreat and displacement trends, providing insights into coastal vulnerabilities.
Historical Data for Contextual Insights
To tackle coastal erosion on the Isle of Wight, InSAR technology was used. This satellite-based method detects ground displacement with millimetric accuracy, leveraging historical and recent data to monitor changes in areas lacking past records.
Current Monitoring for Proactive Management
Beyond historical analysis, InSAR delivered real-time data on ground movement, highlighting areas at high risk of landslides. This early warning system helped decision-makers prioritise interventions and allocate resources effectively.
The Role of Geotechnical Data
InSAR data was enhanced by geotechnical analysis, incorporating soil properties, slope stability, and hydrological factors for a comprehensive risk assessment. Areas with loose or saturated soils and unstable rock formations were identified as high-risk zones, enabling targeted monitoring and proactive erosion management.
The Benefits of InSAR Technology
InSAR transforms coastal monitoring with key advantages:
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Wide Coverage – Monitors vast coastlines efficiently, unlike in-situ methods.
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Historical Insights – Tracks long-term displacement trends to identify erosion triggers.
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Early Warnings – Detects subtle ground shifts, enabling proactive intervention.
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Cost-Effective – Reduces fieldwork and equipment costs for large-scale monitoring.
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Non-Invasive – Remotely monitors without disturbing sensitive environments.
Safeguarding Coastal Infrastructure
The application of InSAR technology on the Isle of Wight has yielded significant insights that are shaping the island’s approach to coastal management. 
Mapping Displacement Hotspots
InSAR displacement maps pinpoint high-risk areas, guiding targeted interventions like slope stabilisation and infrastructure relocation.
Supporting Decision-Making
Local authorities now have critical data to guide decisions, enabling proactive measures like embankment reinforcement and drainage improvements to prevent landslides.
Protecting Communities and Assets
This initiative aims to protect coastal communities and infrastructure. InSAR insights help mitigate the economic and social impact of erosion by safeguarding roads, utilities, and homes.
Broader Implications: A Blueprint for Coastal Monitoring
The success of InSAR on the Isle of Wight demonstrates its potential for wider use in regions facing similar challenges. As climate change accelerates coastal erosion and landslides, scalable and cost-effective monitoring solutions are more crucial than ever.
Applications Beyond the Isle of Wight
InSAR is a versatile tool for monitoring various coastal environments, including:
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Urban Coastlines – Detecting subsidence in developed areas.
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Natural Reserves – Protecting ecosystems from erosion.
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Critical Infrastructure – Safeguarding ports, pipelines, and power plants.
With its detailed and reliable data, InSAR enables proactive measures, minimising both human and financial risks.
Conclusion
The Isle of Wight demonstrates how InSAR technology can tackle coastal erosion and landslides with precision. By integrating historical and real-time data, stakeholders can protect communities, infrastructure, and the environment. As climate change reshapes coastlines, InSAR offers a vital tool for resilience.
Want to learn more? Contact Geofem today to discover how InSAR can support your geotechnical needs.​​
