Landslide impacts on Agrigento’s cathedral imaged with radar interferometry

ERS1/2 (1992–2000), ENVISAT (2002–2008) and RADARSAT1 (2003–2007) satellite data, processed with Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, are exploited to study the historic urban area of Agrigento, Italy, whose structural stability is threatened by retrogressive landslide processes. Up to 2–5mm/year of line-of-sight displacement are observed in 1992–2008 on the staircase and the left aisle of the Cathedral. Displacement acceleration to 13–15mm/year is measured in July 2006–May 2007, in the northern portion of the churchyard, in front of the left aisle. The areas moving at higher rates, located at the edge of the NW slope of Girgenti hill, correspond to those showing major structural damages. Aggravation of structural instability of the Cathedral and increased risk of collapses is observed in 2011.