Environment 4.0

Digitization measure „Environment 4.0“: Use of digital terrain models and Copernicus data

In this project, surface displacements over several years are collected from satellite observation, LIDAR data and other geological sources. In this way, mass movements and large scale ground motions can be detected, recorded and classified more easily.

Faktenbox Umwelt 4.0
Picture: Hessisches Landesamt für Naturschutz, Umwelt und Geologie (HLNUG)

Facts about the project

Project manager: Dr. Michael Rudolf +++ Duration: 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2024 +++ Project funding: Hessisches Landesamt für Naturschutz, Umwelt und Geologie (HLNUG) +++ In cooperation with: Working Group “Fernerkundung und Bildanalyse”

Mehr erfahren

Surface displacement in the city centre of Frankfurt am Main, measured by persistent scatterer interferometry (triangles) with data from the Copernicus satellite mission. Data source: BGR (PSI data) and HVBG (digital surface model).
Surface displacement in the city centre of Frankfurt am Main, measured by persistent scatterer interferometry (triangles) with data from the Copernicus satellite mission. Data source: BGR (PSI data) and HVBG (digital surface model).

Large-scale subsidence and heave pose a significant risk to buildings. These are caused primarily by changing groundwater levels and mining activities. While subsidence of groundwater or soil caused by mining, industry or construction activities is easy to contain regionally, changes caused by climate change can only be predicted with difficulty. Damage to buildings in Kassel, Offenbach and Wiesbaden that can be attributed to such ground movements can already be observed today. Satellite observations over a longer period of time provide precise movement data of buildings and structures at intervals of a few days. High-resolution digital terrain and surface models can be generated from regular aerial surveys with airborne laser scanners. These data are to be merged in the project and linked with other data sources, such as geological maps, known settlement-sensitive layers, hydrogeological and climatic data. In this way, occurring ground movements and even mass movements can be detected at an early stage and, if necessary, measures can be initiated. Based on these results, future decisions on regulations or even information for the general public on risk areas can be prepared.

Classified ground motions in the area around the ‘Hohe Meißner’, a well-known area with large scale ground motion. Map: ESRI.
Classified ground motions in the area around the ‘Hohe Meißner’, a well-known area with large scale ground motion. Map: ESRI.

First, the data basis is checked for usability. It has already been shown that the existing terrain models contain various artifacts from the processing and must be recalculated from the raw data. Following the review, the data will be processed accordingly and compiled into a geodatabase. The PSI data will be merged from irregularly distributed point data into a two-dimensional representation on a 250 m grid. This should be as meaningful as possible and representative for the respective region. The uneven distribution of points between developed and undeveloped areas, as well as the strong scattering of individual data points must be taken into account. The individual data will then be checked for comparability and plausibility in pilot regions and summarized in an overall picture. Important milestones are:

  • Comparability of data sources in pilot regions, later in the whole of Hesse.
  • A soil movement atlas with possible causes (e.g. geological or anthropogenic)
  • A tool for easy detection of critical ground motions

Conference Contributions

  • Krzepek et al. 2023, Detektion und Analyse von großflächigen Bewegungsmustern aus Radarinterferometrie-Daten am Beispiel der Stadt Riedstadt, Beitrag mit Vortrag/Poster an der Jahrestagung Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation e.V. 2023, (eingereicht).
  • Krzepek et al. 2023, Raster Representation of Ground Motion Service Data and Automated Hot-Spot Detection, Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event 2023, (eingereicht).
  • Krzepek et al. 2022, Bodenbewegung in Hessen: Kacheldarstellung der BBD Daten und automatisierte Detektion von Hot Spots, Poster, BBD Workshop „Der operationelle BBD und seine Entwicklungspotentiale“, Geozentrum Hannover.

Status Quo & Outlook

The examination of the data basis has been completed and the first detailed evaluations in the pilot regions are available.

The second project phase was successfully approved. Currently, the new data basis is being prepared and new differential height maps are being calculated.

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