Spatial geodesy in risk management: current and future applications in Colombia

Abstract

Space geodesy has become, in recent years, a fundamental tool for the study of phenomena associated to earth’s dynamics, which allows to establish its essential role in the understanding and mitigation of natural hazards. It implies the establishment of geodetic networks aimed to carry out tectonic and volcano geodesy, with the purpose of knowing the deformation of the earth's crust and its implications for the possibilities of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurrence, as well as the use of interferometry techniques (InSAR) to support these analyzes. In Colombia, the Colombian Geological Service gradually has been working in such applications, from the concept of GNSS Space Geodetic instrumentation as imaging geodesy. The GeoRED Project has been gradually implementing a GNSS geodetic network for the study of the geodynamics in the Colombian territory; at the same time, the Research and Monitoring of Volcanic Activity in Colombia has installed some GNSS geodetic stations in several volcanic edifices in the country. In addition, with the support of foreign research institutions, some activities have been carried out on the application of interferometry radar, covering even the study of the land subsidence of the Sabana de Bogotá. Preliminary results obtained until now are showed, using the techniques mentioned above. It is being also illustrated the general aspects of the use of GNSS satellite signals with other research purposes, in order to support the advances in the knowledge of the Colombian territory.