CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background
"Remote sensing is the science (and to some extent, art) of acquiring
information about the Earth's surface without actually being in contact with it. This
is done by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and processing,
analyzing, and applying that information (CCRS, 2014). The information that
acquired by remote sensing are spatial (geometric resolution), spectral (frequency
resolution) intensity (radiometric resolution) and temporal (revisit time). In general
there are two types of remote sensing sensors that is optical remote sensing and
microwave remote sensing. They are distinguished by wavelength its use, which is
optical sensors use visible-near infrared wavelength and microwave sensors use the
microwave wavelength.
One of the microwave remote sensing sensor is Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR). Sensor itself transmit a microwave on the ground and receive the reflection
from ground (backscatter). Spaceborne SAR operated from 1970s have provided
newer methodologies of measuring the earth (Shimada, 2014). The potential
information in the phase of SAR complex images has led established a new
technology of interferometric SAR (InSAR). The cross-track InSAR (CT-InSAR)
has been used for produce topographic maps, and measurements of crust movement
caused by earthquakes and volcanic activity (Ouchi, 2013).

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a powerful

technology for observing the Earth surface, especially for mapping the Earth's
topography and deformations (Xiao-ling, et al 2008). Differential SAR (D-InSAR)
is a technique useful for accurately detecting the ground displacement or land
deformations in the antenna line-of sight (slant-range) direction using SAR data
taken at two separate acquisition times (Bayuaji, et al 2010).
Many studies and research on land deformation has been done by using DInSAR technique such as and subsidence in urban area (Lopez, et al 2009; Bayuaji,
et al 2010; Chaussard, et al 2012), slope stability assessment (Akbarimehr, et al
2013), slope superficial displacement monitoring (Chen, et al 2014), man-made
objects (rockfill dam) displacement (Honda, et al 2014) and others. D-InSAR
interferogram generated by various SAR image using various SAR processor. To
extract the displacement component from interferogram, the topographic phase
component has removed by various DEM data such as SRTM-DEM, ASTER-DEM
and other DEM-data from particular agency. Most of previous study shown the
appropriate results of D-InSAR technique on land deformations studies. The DInSAR technique is now almost at a complete stage and has been used as practical
tool (Ouchi, 2013).
From previous study on InSAR concludes, some factor affected on its
accuracy. These factors affected on the coherence of two images, and determination
of coherence threshold become the important point. There is no standard value for
coherence threshold, which it is depend on the research condition. Another factor
severely decreasing the accuracy of InSAR is atmospheric disturbance. Many
scientist are study in mitigating on atmospheric effect on InSAR such as, Shimada

(2014), Xiao-li (2008), and Wadge (2002). Removing the atmospheric effects
especially by ionospheric disturbance needs sophisticated technique and programs
and this problems is challenging on improvement of InSAR accuracy.
In this study will apply the D-InSAR technique to land deformation
monitoring. The interferogram generated from ALOS-PALSAR data by using
Generic Mapping Tools Synthetic Aperture Radar (GMTSAR) software with the
coherence threshold set in 0.13 and 0.25. The SRTM3 data and ASTER1 data has
employed to remove topography component and then compared to GPS data, the
best correlation will be selected. Although the application of D-InSAR by single
pair interferogam has a good result, but when applying to derive the subsidence for
long periods, it is will lose their coherence. Time series analysis by using only single
inferogram also not possible, because of that in this study not only generating for
single inteferogram but also multi-temporal interferogram. By applying the multitemporal interferogram method the land subsidence behavior of the chosen
observation point can be obtained.
The study area is Semarang City Indonesia, this is the main city in Central
Java with a dense population which industry activity as a main business. Land
subsidence phenomena in Semarang has been observed by many researcher with
various method and discipline such as InSAR method (Kuehn et al., 2009,
Murdohardano et al., 2009, Lubis et al., 2011 and Sudi, 2014), Leveling method
(Sutanta et al., 2005, Marfai and King 2005), Gravity method Sarkowi et al., 2005)
and Global Positioning System (GPS) by Geodesy Reseach group of Institute of
Technology Bandung ITB (Abidin et al., 2008-present). Monitoring of land
subsidence in this area should be continued and the accuracy should be improved

especially on D-InSAR technique. This research result compared to Geodesy

research group (ITB) results, as a validation of the InSAR result to the GPS result.

1.2 Problems Formula

Based on the background above, in this research will investigating some
problems namely:
1

What is deference between the Single D-InSAR with the Multi-Temporal

D-InSAR for land deformation monitoring comparing to GPS results?

How the effect using different bases of DEM data to remove topography
component in D-InSAR especially in Semarang case?

How the coherence threshold value affect the D-InSAR results?

How is land subsidence rates and its pattern in Semarang city during 20072010 monitored by ALOS-PALSAR D-InSAR observed in ascending and
descending direction?

How to improve the accuracy of D-InSAR for monitoring land

displacement in long period.

1.3 Research Objectives

According to the problem formula, the objectives of this research are:
1

To obtain the correlation of Single D-InSAR and Multi-Temporal D-InSAR

to land subsidence comparing to GPS result.

To know the effect of different bases of DEM data to remove the

topography component in D-InSAR technique.

To know the coherence threshold value affected on D-InSAR results.

To know the rates and pattern and prediction of the land subsidence in
Semarang city during 2007-2010.

To improve the accuracy of D-InSAR for long period monitoring on land

displacement.

1.4 Benefit of the Research

This study is expected to give an information about the land subsidence
behavior including pattern, rates and its prediction in Semarang city. This
information is expected to be useful for stake holder (local government, properties
develover) to prevent the disaster causing by land subsidence in the future for
example it is vulnerable of flooding area. Information about land subsidence will
be also important for environmental conservation, ground water extraction
regulation, infrastructure design and contruction, spatial planning, and flood control.
The information about best DEM data to remove the topography component in DInSAR and coherence threshold value, will be useful to another research on land
deformation by using D-InSAR technique.