InSAR Analysis for Dam Safety and Landslide Risk Management: the Drin Cascade - Albania

Summary

Abstract

The Drin Cascade, one of the largest hydroelectric systems in the Balkans located in Albania, is crucial for national energy production. However, its location in a mountainous and seismically active region, subject to intense rainfall and partly influenced by fluctuations in reservoir levels, makes it particularly vulnerable to slope instability and landslides. This paper explores the application of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite technology, in particular analysis with ALOS-2 data (L-band constellation), for the monitoring and proactive management of landslides in the Drin Cascade area. The principles of InSAR will be discussed, along with the advantages it offers in detecting millimetric movements in vegetated and difficult-to-access areas and the implications for the safety of infrastructure and local communities. InSAR is proving to be a transformative tool for improving landslide inventories, supporting planning and predictive maintenance, and strengthening the operational resilience of the hydroelectric complex. The paper aims to explore how InSAR satellite technology can be effectively deployed to address these challenges, providing accurate, large-scale monitoring data for the prevention and mitigation of landslide-related risks in such a critical context.