Airport runways, taxiways and pavements are designed to withstand immense loading and frequent use. Airports are often built on reclaimed or repurposed land, which can be susceptible to ground movements. These ground movements can, over time, lead to localised cracking of tarmac/concrete and uneven surfaces. Degradation in conditions can eventually lead to shutdowns whilst runways are repaired, causing disruption to passengers and financial losses to operators.
We present case studies from airports around the world facing challenges related to ground movement. These studies demonstrate how InSAR can provide a retrospective assessment of historical movements and an ongoing monitoring solution to inform proactive maintenance strategies.
- Ardmore Airport (AMZ) in Auckland, New Zealand: The Northern runway experiences widespread subsidence, with sections subsiding by over 85 mm since 2015 (Figure 1), likely due to the compaction of peaty soils.
- Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu: This airport faces differential settlement issues related to groundwater over-extraction. The velocity profile along its 3,350-meter runway reveals differential settlement ranging from 20 to 70 mm (Figure 2).
- Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR), India: We demonstrate our ongoing monitoring solutions, with quarterly displacement updates highlighting movement hotspots. These updates help direct resources to assess areas at risk of cracking due to ground movement (Figure 3).
With SatSense InSAR airport pavement monitoring solutions, airport asset managers can:
Precisely monitor ground movements with millimetric precision
Evaluate historical movements using a comprehensive global data archive
Implement an early warning system to identify at-risk areas before they escalate into major issues.
Efficiently divert resources with a proactive maintenance strategy
Reduce the need for on-site inspections and manual checks with remote monitoring capabilities.
For more information on SatSense airport runway monitoring solutions connect with our InSAR solutions specialists at: contact@satsense.com
