Glacier retreat and slope instabilities: Impacts on alpine infrastructure assessed through InSAR technique

Glacier retreats, along with associated geomorphological and periglacial processes, can significantly impact hiking infrastructure and have consequences for the local tourism industry, which heavily depends on high-altitude mountaineering. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) time-series techniques, such as the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) method, have gained considerable attention for analysing surface deformation and slope instability. InSAR utilises phase information to measure time-series surface deformations with sub-centimetre accuracy.

The primary objective of this study is to identify and measure surface deformation and slope instability using InSAR, and to investigate the potential impacts on selected alpine huts in high mountain regions in Austria. We use time-series Sentinel-1 data and open-source software, including the InSAR Scientific Computing Environment (ISCE) tool for SAR data processing and the Miami InSAR Time-series software in PYthon (Mintpy) for SBAS analysis. By integrating the InSAR results, slope units derived from a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM), and alpine infrastructure locations, we identify areas showing significant deformation rates. The initial results provide insights into the slope instabilities and surface deformation that may affect alpine infrastructure. The results highlight the potential of advanced InSAR time-series analysis for monitoring surface deformation in highly dynamic alpine landscapes, where increasing natural hazards, such as landslides, necessitate improved natural hazard and risk management. Future steps include discussion and validation of the results in collaboration with experts from alpine associations.