The Benínar Dam, located in Southeastern Spain, is an earth-fill dam that has experienced filtration issues since its construction in 1985. Despite the installation of various monitoring systems, the data collected are sparse and inadequate for the dam’s lifetime. The present research integrates Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) and dam modeling to validate the monitoring of this dam, opening the way to enhanced integrated monitoring systems. MT-InSAR was proved to be a reliable and continuous monitoring system for dam deformation, surpassing previously installed systems in terms of precision. MT-InSAR allowed the almost-continuous monitoring of this dam since 1992, combining ERS, Envisat, and Sentinel-1A/B data. Line-of-sight (LOS) velocities of settlement in the crest of the dam evolved from maximums of −6 mm/year (1992–2000), −4 mm/year (2002–2010), and −2 mm/year (2015–2021) with median values of −2.6 and −3.0 mm/year in the first periods (ERS and Envisat) and −1.3 mm/year in the Sentinel 1-A/B period. These results are consistent with the maximum admissible modeled deformation from construction, confirming that settlement was more intense in the dam’s early stages and decreased over time. MT-InSAR was also used to integrate the monitoring of the dam basin, including critical slopes, quarries, and infrastructures, such as roads, tracks, and spillways. This study allows us to conclude that MT-InSAR and dam modeling are important elements for the integrated monitoring systems of embankment dams. This conclusion supports the complete integration of MT-InSAR and 3D modeling into the monitoring systems of embankment dams, as they are a key complement to traditional geotechnical monitoring and can overcome the main limitations of topographical monitoring.

The last seismic events showed that tunnel lining may suffer extensive damage. Employing numerical modeling has a great importance in predicting the seismic performance of tunnels. This paper tests the tunnel lining of the Zaouit Ait Mellal (ZAM) twin tunnels located between the cities of Marrakesh and Agadir in Morocco. Dynamic analysis was adopted by FLAC 2D software using the finite-difference elements. Four soil cross-sections were chosen, with different support devices installed along the twin tunnels, such as rock bolts and steel ribs. The seismic signals introduced as input were obtained from three different earthquakes: Al Hoceima 2004 in Morocco, EL Centro 1940 in the USA, and Kobe 1995 in Japan. The numerical results show that the deformation of the tunnel lining is more noteworthy in the sections using steel ribs compared to those using rock bolts, which is observed by the large values of relative displacement, reaching 1020 (mm) and 2.29 × 105 (N.m/m) of maximum bending moment. The analysis indicates that these sections present higher vulnerability during an earthquake, which should be considered when looking at the overall safety of the tunnel.

Satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) has become an invaluable tool for monitoring dams and large ponds, providing significant advantages when complemented with geotechnical and geodetic monitoring. InSAR uses radar signals from satellites to detect ground movements with millimeter precision by comparing phase differences between images taken at different times. This technique enables large-scale, continuous monitoring, which is critical for identifying potential structural problems and preventing catastrophic failures. Unlike traditional geotechnical and geodetic monitoring, which require extensive equipment and manual data collection, InSAR provides a non-intrusive, efficient solution that covers vast areas with high temporal frequency. The European Ground Motion Service (EGMS) exemplifies these advantages by providing standardized ground motion data across Europe, derived from Sentinel-1 satellite radar data. EGMS enables routine and comprehensive monitoring of ground stability and infrastructure integrity, assisting in the early detection of deformation patterns and supporting proactive maintenance and risk management. For dam managers, the integration of InSAR with traditional methods enhances the reliability of structural health assessments. Geotechnical sensors offer localized information on soil and material properties, while geodetic methods provide precise positional data; InSAR complements these by delivering comprehensive, continuous deformation maps. This synergy ensures robust monitoring and enhances the ability to predict and mitigate potential problems, significantly improving the effectiveness and efficiency of monitoring dams and large ponds, and contributing to safer and more resilient infrastructure management. This work presents several case studies from the SIAGUA project as examples, highlighting the practical applications and benefits of combining InSAR with traditional monitoring techniques.

Monitoring embankment dams from space using satellite radar interferometry: Case studies from RemoDams project