About The INSAR Subsidence Monitoring System

The INSAR Subsidence Monitoring System is a multi-platform engineering solution designed to detect, analyze, and alert stakeholders about ground deformation risks in the Kwekwe District of Zimbabwe. By leveraging satellite interferometry and ground-level crowdsourced data, the system provides a comprehensive risk profile for mining environments.

The Four Core Components

This system operates as a synchronized ecosystem consisting of four major pillars:

1. The Processing Engine (The Brain)

The core analytical unit. It automates the retrieval of Sentinel-1 SAR data from NASA EarthData, acquires topographical datasets (DEM and slope) via Google Earth Engine, and executes complex InSAR post processing. It also manages the integration of crack imagery and generates the final risk maps, graphs, alerts and metadata.

2. Cloud Storage Infrastructure

Powered by a secure Google Drive backend. This acts as the central repository for all spatial data, risk graphs, and notification logs. It utilizes a custom Google Apps Script API to facilitate seamless, secure data flow between the engine, the dashboard, and the mobile app.

3. The Website Dashboard (The Vision)

A high-performance analytical interface (This Platform). It allows decision-makers to visualize historical subsidence trends through interactive temporal risk maps and graphs, ensuring data is accessible without requiring specialized GIS software. It also serves as a real-time alert receiver. For a better experience, please view the website on a device with a screen that is at least 15cm wide.

4. The Android Application (The Sentinel)

The "boots on the ground" component. It enables field officers and citizens to upload geotagged crack imagery directly to the cloud. It also serves as a real-time alert receiver, pushing critical safety notifications directly to users' devices when high-risk movement is detected.

Technical Specifications

• Study Area: Kwekwe District, Zimbabwe
• Data Sources: ESA Sentinel-1, NASA EarthData, Google Earth Engine
• System Version:
• Developer: T. Ndlovu