Deformation Loss in Slope Stability Radar Monitoring

Abstract

Slope deformation data were obtained at an open pit copper mine in Arizona using a ground based synthetic aperture interferometric slope stability monitoring radar. These data were directly compared to geodetic prism data acquired by the mining company. The prism data were from the same areas in the pit and the same timespan as the radar data. This direct comparison of deformation as measured by the prisms to deformation as measured by the radar allowed for the demonstration and discussion of the dominant phenomena which effect the accuracy of ground based interferometric slope stability monitoring radars. This study is particularly relevant to radars which use a statistical algorithm to model and correct for atmospheric effects on the radar data, however some of the general conclusions also apply to ground-based radars that use other correction methods.