PhD Thesis Defense – Differential Deformation Maps Using EGMS Data
We invite you to attend the PhD thesis defense of Hana Shahbazi, researcher and PhD student at CTTC’s Geomatics Unit.
Her doctoral work introduces a novel methodology and software tool to derive building‑scale differential deformation maps from EGMS InSAR data, identifying urban buildings at risk due to differential ground movements.
- Doctoral candidate: Hana Shahbazi
- Thesis title: Building Differential Deformation Mapping of Urban Areas using EGMS InSAR Data
- Date & Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 11:00 (CET)
- Location: Room C4‑001, EETAC (UPC)
- Directors: Michele Crosetto, Anna Barra
- Tutor: Càrol Puig Polo
Abstract
Investigating building deformation due to differential settlements is a challenging task, particularly over large areas; however, with the advancement of remote sensing techniques, such investigations have now become feasible. The European Ground Motion Service (EGMS), a component of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service, represents the largest wide-area Interferometric SAR (InSAR) service ever developed, providing fully open and free access to data. This PhD thesis proposes a methodology and a novel software tool that transform InSAR-based displacement data into comprehensive geospatial maps through a building-scale spatial differential deformation analysis, enabling the identification and classification of urban buildings susceptible to damage due to differential movements. The focus is on spatial differential deformation (i.e., the spatial gradient of deformation) for individual buildings because most significant damage to man-made structures and infrastructures are associated with spatial differential deformation. The final output of the proposed methodology is the so-called “Building Differential Deformation Map” (BDD). This methodology is novel because it provides the advantage of enabling wide-area mapping while preserving building-level details. The Spanish nationwide BDD map identifies 2,958 buildings vulnerable to damage due to differential settlements. In a further step, to enhance the analysis, additional data have been considered to provide an initial assessment of the potential impact on residents. This integration has led to the development of the so-called “Potential Impact Map,” which identifies areas that need prioritized attention and resources for risk mitigation.
She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of Zanjan, Iran. She then completed her Master’s degree in Geophysics at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), where her research focused on the characterization of hydrogeological properties and land subsidence through GNSS and InSAR measurements. Since 2021, she has been a researcher and PhD student at the Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), within the Geomatics Unit. Her doctoral research focuses on differential deformation analysis of buildings in urban areas using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) deformation maps provided by the European Ground Motion Service (EGMS) Basic products. The main goal of her work is to develop methodologies and tools to identify buildings at risk due to differential ground movements.