DefoEye: Open-source Python tool streamlines Sentinel-1 InSAR analysis
Hits 4.3-11.9 mm RMSE against GNSS across three regions
Time-series Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (TS-InSAR) is a powerful technique for measuring ground deformation, but existing tools often suffer from limited geographic applicability, commercial licensing, or incomplete processing pipelines. GMTSAR is open-source but relies on C-shell commands and manual steps, lacking features like interferogram network pruning and unwrapped-phase anchoring. Researchers led by Alireza Taheri Dehkordi (Lund University) introduced DefoEye v1, an open-source Python package that encapsulates GMTSAR into a cohesive, GUI-friendly workflow specifically for Sentinel-1 data.
DefoEye supports parallel job execution to speed up processing, automated interferogram network pruning, and multiple anchoring options for unwrapped interferograms. The team validated DefoEye from 2020 to 2024 across four regions with distinct geological settings: Bologna (Italy), Gotland (Sweden), Houston (USA), and Karaj (Iran). Against 10 GNSS stations, DefoEye produced RMSE values of 4.3-11.9 mm and Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.63-0.95. For Karaj, where GNSS data was unavailable, comparisons with other processing tools yielded an RMSE of 4.8 mm/yr and a correlation of 0.98. These results show DefoEye delivers reliable deformation measurements suitable for geological, hydrological, and environmental applications—all without commercial licensing or steep command-line learning curves.
- DefoEye v1 is an open-source Python wrapper for GMTSAR that adds parallel processing, interferogram network pruning, and multiple anchoring methods for Sentinel-1 TS-InSAR.
- Validated over 2020-2024 in Bologna, Gotland, Houston, and Karaj; achieved 4.3-11.9 mm RMSE against 10 GNSS stations and 0.98 correlation with other tools in Karaj.
- Aims to make TS-InSAR more accessible by replacing manual C-shell commands with a unified, user-friendly workflow and no commercial license restrictions.
Why It Matters
DefoEye lowers barriers to satellite-based ground deformation monitoring, enabling broader use in geohazard, hydrology, and climate research.