In recent years, Advanced Differential Interferometric Synthetic-Aperture
Radar A-DInSAR technique has advanced rapidly for detecting and
monitoring ground surface deformations due to landslides. Identification
of the areas affected by ground motion through A-DInSAR data is generally
based on visual inspection and hotspot or cluster analysis of average
displacement rates. However, interpreting A-DInSAR time series of a
particular area provides a better indication of the real trend of displacement
of a landslide, while identifying the possible moment of acceleration of the
deformation process as well. A novel methodology is then proposed for
identifying different typologies of ground motion areas mainly related to
landslide phenomena at a regional scale, by means of A-DinSAR data at high
spatial and temporal resolutions. This methodological approach was tested
and validated in Piedmont region northern Italy, by means of RADARSAT
and COSMO-SkyMed satellite data, in both ascending and descending
modes. Linear constant in time displacement and non-linear acceleration
or deceleration in the displacement rate trends were recognised, allowing
characterisation of the kinematic pattern of a landslide or a portion of it. Local
and site-specific scale analyses, performed in an Alpine valley and in two
hillslopes representative of the main geological/geomorphological contexts
of the study area, validated the results obtained at the regional scale. This
supported the interpretation of the driving mechanism for such known
landslides, or other geological processes which can cause ground motion
along slopes. The developed procedure can allow one to specify priority
areas for prevention activities, in order to optimise the costs and benefits
of designing a plan to monitor instability phenomena at regional and sitespecific
scales. Moreover, ground motion areas identified by different sensors
in the same landslide help in the characterization of the state of activity of
this phenomenon, identifying also possible moments of re-activation