5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[O12-P02] Estimation of building damage due to the 2025 Myanmar earthquake based on interferometric SAR analysis
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Earthquake, InSAR, Sentinel-1, Coherence Change Detection
In Japan, a country frequently struck by earthquakes, the rapid assessment of damage of buildings following such events is essential for effective initial disaster response. The Myanmar earthquake in 2025, the fault shifted several meters over a distance of 300 km causing damage over a very wide area. However, the detailed damage distribution is still unknown due to the lack of local information. We have been using SAR satellites to extract damage to buildings immediately after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and other earthquakes. Based on the knowledge obtained from these studies, we extracted damage to buildings using SAR satellites for the 2025 Myanmar earthquake.
This presentation introduces a case study where satellite SAR was employed to extract building damage information following the Myanmar earthquake. Coherence obtained from Interferometric SAR (InSAR) analysis, a complex correlation of phase and amplitude over two time periods, serves as an indicator of interferometric properties. It is known that building damage leads to a decrease in interferometric properties.
In Myanmar, the observations were obtained with Sentinel-1 in the C-band, which can be processed for interferometric analysis. In this research, three SAR images: two before and one after the disaster were used to extract building damage due to reduced coherence by interferometric SAR analysis.
From the interferometric SAR images, it is estimated that fault movement associated with the earthquake occurred over 300 km north-south. In addition, several lines of low coherence were identified, especially at phase breaks where the ground surface may have been significantly displaced, and where the condition of buildings and the ground had changed. This suggests that multiple faults may have appeared on the ground surface along the main fault.
From the building damage estimation results, it appears that there is a large decrease in interfering properties along the Sagaing Fault, indicating the magnitude of the building damage.
Even in Mandalay City, the areas in the city center where the damage to buildings is extensive are located on the west side near the fault line and in low-lying areas along the river. On the other hand, it can be seen that there are fewer signs of damage on higher ground and in areas far from the fault line. This variation in building damage can be attributed to differences in the nature of the ground and the amplification characteristics of seismic waves.
Satellite remote sensing for damage assessment is effective, and even in places where information is scarce, such as overseas, rapid acquisition of satellite data and provision of analysis results could be one option for initial disaster information. In addition, it is difficult to estimate the area of damage to buildings using optical photographs, so SAR is very effective in estimating building damage.
Finally, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to those affected by the earthquake.
This presentation introduces a case study where satellite SAR was employed to extract building damage information following the Myanmar earthquake. Coherence obtained from Interferometric SAR (InSAR) analysis, a complex correlation of phase and amplitude over two time periods, serves as an indicator of interferometric properties. It is known that building damage leads to a decrease in interferometric properties.
In Myanmar, the observations were obtained with Sentinel-1 in the C-band, which can be processed for interferometric analysis. In this research, three SAR images: two before and one after the disaster were used to extract building damage due to reduced coherence by interferometric SAR analysis.
From the interferometric SAR images, it is estimated that fault movement associated with the earthquake occurred over 300 km north-south. In addition, several lines of low coherence were identified, especially at phase breaks where the ground surface may have been significantly displaced, and where the condition of buildings and the ground had changed. This suggests that multiple faults may have appeared on the ground surface along the main fault.
From the building damage estimation results, it appears that there is a large decrease in interfering properties along the Sagaing Fault, indicating the magnitude of the building damage.
Even in Mandalay City, the areas in the city center where the damage to buildings is extensive are located on the west side near the fault line and in low-lying areas along the river. On the other hand, it can be seen that there are fewer signs of damage on higher ground and in areas far from the fault line. This variation in building damage can be attributed to differences in the nature of the ground and the amplification characteristics of seismic waves.
Satellite remote sensing for damage assessment is effective, and even in places where information is scarce, such as overseas, rapid acquisition of satellite data and provision of analysis results could be one option for initial disaster information. In addition, it is difficult to estimate the area of damage to buildings using optical photographs, so SAR is very effective in estimating building damage.
Finally, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to those affected by the earthquake.