Insuring infrastructure safety using satellite monitoring technology

A cost-effective and high-accuracy state-of-the-art early warning system

The remote sensing technology used for the project is a radar system called InSAR, which can measure minuscule changes on the earth’s surface by detecting differences in the phase of the waves returning to the satellite. However, Dr Peifeng Ma’s research project will not solely consist of developing a cutting-edge infrastructure monitoring method. The objective is also to design standard guidelines for infrastructural health diagnosis and early warning of possible deformation risks. In other words, the project is not just about innovative technology, the aim is also to provide relevant actors with a fully operational system, incorporating expert knowledge for assessment of the collected data. Additionally, the project will also allow long-term infrastructural health archives.

This project will have an immediate impact on both local and international practices. By providing a
cost-effective and high-accuracy deformation monitoring and state-of-the-art early warning system, the project will assist the government departments in their efforts to coordinate infrastructure maintenance and avoid possible risks. Scientifically, the achievements of Dr. Peifeng Ma’s research will also benefit other fields in which an enhanced understanding of the dynamic mechanisms of urban infrastructures is also critical, such as the investigation of sea level change for instance.