Usage of InSAR Technology in Surface Deformations Caused by Deep Mining

Abstract

This study investigates surface deformations at the Márkushegy Mining Facility in Pusztavám, Hungary, within the Oroszlány coal basin, from 2014 to 2019 using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology. The facility, which extracted lignite, ceased operations in 2015, followed by re-cultivation by mid-2016. Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B radar imagery revealed vertical displacements ranging from -10 cm to +5 cm, with maximum subsidence in the central mining area during the final mining phase (2014- 2015) and stabilization post-re-cultivation (2016-2019). This paper details deformation patterns, processing challenges, and validation needs, highlighting InSAR’s potential for monitoring mining-induced deformations needs.