Deformation monitoring and safety stability evaluation study of high-altitude limestone dumps

Abstract

We employed synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) to assess the slope stability of a high-altitude landfill in Sangri County, Shannan, Tibet. To address the unique climatic conditions of high-altitude regions, the InSAR deformation monitoring model was enhanced to mitigate the effects of temperature and rainfall. The accuracy of InSAR monitoring in high-elevation slopes was validated by comparison with GNSS RTK measurements. Both Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (D-InSAR) and Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) techniques were applied to monitor and evaluate slope deformation at the landfill site. The findings indicate that the average error between the improved InSAR model and GNSS measurements is 0.28 mm, with no statistically significant difference. The maximum slope displacement exceeds 20 mm when rainfall exceeds 300 mm, reaching the blue warning threshold. From 2018 to 2022, the deformation rate of the high-altitude landfill ranged from 0 to − 9.00 mm/a, classified as slip category VII. Significant deformation was observed during the rainy season, while the slope remained stable during dry periods, suggesting that rainfall is a primary trigger for slope deformation. A certain hysteresis effect in the deformation response to rainfall was also identified. The results demonstrate that InSAR technology offers comprehensive and dynamic monitoring capabilities for high-altitude slopes and serves as an effective tool for slope stability management in challenging environments.