An InSAR feasibility assessment determines whether satellite radar observations can answer a specific ground movement question at a particular site, and it is the quickest way to find out how much value InSAR can add. It considers the asset, the expected displacement, ground cover, satellite viewing geometry, historical imagery, uncertainty and the decisions that depend on the results. It also clarifies the role InSAR should play, since a feasible satellite study is not necessarily a suitable safety-critical alarm system.
Start with the decision, not the satellite
A mine operator asking whether a remote slope has moved over several seasons needs a different service than a contractor trying to detect rapid movement during excavation. Before requesting imagery, describe the failure mode or business question, the assets exposed and what would happen if an anomaly were detected. Decide whether the intended use is historical screening, routine trend monitoring, model validation or an input to escalation. Each has different evidence and response requirements. You can read more about how the method works in SkyGeo's introduction to InSAR.
A useful brief identifies the area of interest, coordinates, asset boundaries and available geotechnical information. It also describes the spatial scale of the movement of concern, the reporting interval you want and the acceptable time between observation and action. A specialist InSAR provider should also tell you when the proposed configuration is not suitable.
Check whether the ground provides measurable radar targets
InSAR estimates changes along a satellite's line of sight by comparing radar observations taken at different times. Buildings, rock and other relatively stable surfaces produce useful time series. Dense vegetation, frequently disturbed soil, water and constant surface change can reduce coherence or leave gaps. The test is not whether a satellite image covers the site, but whether enough reliable observations cover the surfaces and assets that matter.
Terrain and structures also affect visibility. A steep slope facing east or west will be observed differently from opposite viewing directions, and layover and radar shadow can make some areas hard to assess. The feasibility review should map expected coverage and explain what remains unobserved instead of implying complete coverage.
Find out what history is available
Historical SAR archives can show whether movement existed before construction, an injection program or an incident. However, not every location has a continuous, comparable archive at the resolution required. Check the acquisition dates, viewing direction, frequency band, gaps and any changes in satellite mission or processing approach. A longer archive is not automatically more useful if observations are sparse or conditions have changed significantly. For more background, you can download The Ultimate Guide to Using InSAR.
The feasibility output should separate what historical data can show from what future monitoring is proposed. Retrospective measurements should not be promised until the archive has been inspected and its quality assessed.
What the feasibility assessment should deliver
Ask the provider for a coverage map, the proposed configuration, likely measurement density, the main sources of uncertainty, candidate reference areas, archive availability and the expected reporting approach. The conclusion should answer the original question directly: what could you learn, what might remain ambiguous and which conventional measurements would still be needed?
If the initial assessment is encouraging, a small pilot over representative assets is often more informative than commissioning a whole portfolio at once. Use the pilot to test whether your engineers can interpret and act on the output, not just whether attractive colored maps can be produced.
What makes a site unsuitable for InSAR?
A site may be unsuitable for the intended purpose if movement is too rapid for reliable phase tracking, the critical surface is persistently incoherent or hidden, the required alert time is shorter than the observation and processing cycle, or the measurement direction misses the relevant motion. Even then, InSAR may still provide useful background context when it cannot act as the primary safety trigger.
SkyGeo treats InSAR as a configured monitoring and interpretation process, with requirements built around your asset and your decision. The best next step is to define the question and request a site-specific assessment, rather than choosing a satellite product in isolation.
Frequently asked questions
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Not fully. It evaluates the likely viewing geometry and available archives, but actual target quality and changing site conditions may still reveal gaps. The outcome should document where the intended decision is not supported.
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Provide the site boundary, asset type, expected direction and timescale of movement, relevant surveys, site activity and the decision the results will inform. State any known safety requirements from the start.
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Not automatically. Some surfaces or radar configurations can still provide useful measurements. Suitability depends on the actual vegetation, wavelength, acquisitions and distribution of targets, and it must be assessed for each site.
Explore the feasibility of your site
If you are evaluating whether satellite monitoring suits a particular asset, share the location and the decision you need to make. Contact SkyGeo.
