Spatio-temporal modeling of bridge deformations from Sentinel-1 SAR images validated with multiple in-situ surveys

Abstract

Abstract. Aging bridge infrastructure requires efficient, network-scale monitoring, especially in remote areas where traditional in-situ sensors are costly and logistically challenging. This paper presents a remote sensing framework for structural health monitoring based on spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The approach combines Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) and Least Squares Collocation (LSC), implemented through the PHASE open-source MATLAB software, to derive a millimeter-level spatio-temporal displacement model. The methodology is applied to a reinforced-concrete viaduct in the Alpine foothills of Lombardy, Italy, using five years of Copernicus Sentinel-1 data. A custom elevation-based spatial filtering strategy enables the isolation of structural displacements from the surrounding topography. The resulting spatio-temporal displacement model captures the expected seasonal thermal behavior of the structure and highlights localized deviations from the dominant cyclic response. Finally, the SAR-derived model is integrated with UAV photogrammetry and official inspection reports within the P.O.N.T.I. 3D viewer. This multi-source, Digital Twin-like environment facilitates the joint interpretation of remote sensing observations and in-situ evidence, providing a scalable framework to support infrastructure monitoring and management.