The Daguangbao landslide (DGBL), triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, is a rare instance of super-giant landslides globally. The post-earthquake evolution of the DGBL has garnered significant attention in recent years; however, its deformation patterns remain poorly characterized owing to the complex local topography. In this study, we present the first observations of the surface dynamics of DGBL by integrating satellite- and ground-based InSAR data complemented by kinematic interpretation using a LiDAR-derived Digital Surface Model (DSM). The results indicate that the maximum line-of-sight (LOS) displacement velocity obtained from satellite InSAR is approximately 80.9 mm/year between 1 January 2021, and 30 December 2023, with downslope displacement velocities ranging from −60.5 mm/year to 69.5 mm/year. Ground-based SAR (GB-SAR) enhances satellite observations by detecting localized apparent deformation at the rear edge of the landslide, with LOS displacement velocities reaching up to 1.5 mm/h. Our analysis suggests that steep and rugged terrain, combined with fragile and densely jointed lithology, are the primary factors contributing to the ongoing deformation of the landslide. The findings of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of combining satellite- and ground-based InSAR systems, highlighting their complementary role in interpreting complex landslide deformations.

The Fucheng-1 (FC-1) satellite has successfully transitioned from its initial operational phase and is now undergoing a detailed performance assessment for time-series deformation monitoring. This study evaluates the surface deformation monitoring capabilities of the newly launched FC-1 satellite using the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique, particularly in urban applications. By analyzing the observation data from 20 FC-1 scenes and 20 Sentinel-1 scenes, deformation velocity maps of a university in Mianyang city were obtained using persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) and distributed scatterer interferometry (DSI) techniques. The results show that thanks to the high resolution of 3 × 3 m of the FC-1 satellite, significantly more PS points and DS points were detected than those detected by Sentinel-1, by 13.4 times and 17.9 times, respectively. The distribution of the major deformation areas detected by both satellites in the velocity maps is generally consistent. FC-1 performs better than Sentinel-1 in monitoring densely structured and vegetation-covered areas. Its deformation monitoring capability at the millimeter level was further validated through comparison with leveling measurements, with average errors and root mean square errors of 1.761 mm and 2.172 mm, respectively. Its high-resolution and high-precision interferometry capabilities make it particularly promising in the commercial remote sensing market.

Since the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, Old Beichuan County-town has experienced significant subsidence due to the disruption of the geological environment and the concurrent increase in precipitation. The ongoing land surface deformation poses a threat to the preservation and utilization of the Beichuan National Earthquake Ruins Museum (BNERM), as well as to the safety of urban residents’ lives. However, the evolutionary characteristics of surface deformation in these areas remain largely unexplored. Here, we focused on the BNERM control zone and employed the small-baseline subset interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique to accurately measure land surface deformation and its spatiotemporal changes. Subsequently, we integrated this data with land cover types and precipitation to investigate the driving factors of deformation. The results indicate a slight overall elevation increase in the study area from June 2015 to May 2023, with deformation rates varying between −35.2 mm/year and 22.9 mm/year. Additionally, four unstable slopes were identified within the BNERM control zone. Our analysis indicates that surface deformation in the study area is closely linked to changes in land cover types and precipitation, exhibiting a seasonal cumulative pattern, and active geological activity may also be a cause of deformation. This study provides invaluable insights into the surface deformation characteristics of the BNERM and can serve as a scientific foundation for the protection of earthquake ruins, risk assessment, early warning, and disaster prevention measures.