Multi-Temporal SBAS InSAR Technique for Monitoring and Assessing Land Instability for Sustainable Construction: A Case Study of El-Qantarah Gharb, Northwestern Ismailia District, Egypt

A detailed multi-temporal interferometric analysis was carried out at El-Qantarah Gharb in the northwestern Ismailia District, Egypt. Ground instability issues, particularly land subsidence, are understudied in this area despite its significance. The study applies the advanced Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique to address this gap using Sentinel-1 SAR data from May 2017 to August 2022. The analysis, performed with GAMMA RS software, integrates ascending and descending orbit data to evaluate movement patterns comprehensively. The findings show significant westward displacement across the majority of the region, with a low rate in the south and more dynamic subsidence in the north, where velocities reach up to 10 mm per year. Localized subsidence was observed in western, central, and Suez Canal-adjacent zones, with descending geometries showing lower values due to observational dependencies. This research highlights the precision of the SBAS-InSAR technique for mapping and monitoring subsidence and uplift, offering critical insights into instable zones. The results support the development of targeted mitigation strategies to minimize risks, enhance structural resilience, and promote sustainable planning for the region’s economic growth.