Innovative method for the detection of deformed or damaged structures based on the use of single SAR images

A method for detecting deformations of structures permanently arranged on the earth's surface, said structures comprising lattice supports of an overhead power line, said method comprising:

• a) acquiring georeferenced data indicative of geographical reference positions of predefined points of interest of a lattice support to be monitored permanently arranged on the earth's surface, wherein the lattice support comprises a plurality of parts including a base anchored to the ground, a head configured for supporting the overhead power line, and a stem that extends between the base and the head, wherein said predefined points of interest are representative of a three-dimensional geometry of the lattice support including the base, the stem and the head without deformations and damages;
• b) acquiring a single post-deformation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image of an area of the earth's surface where the lattice support is arranged, wherein said single post-deformation SAR image is associated with a given reference coordinate system;
• c) transforming the geographical reference positions of the predefined points of interest into corresponding expected positions in the given reference coordinate system associated with the acquired single post-deformation SAR image so as to perform a reprojection of the three-dimensional geometry of the lattice support without deformations and damages on the acquired single post-deformation SAR image;
• d) identifying the predefined points of interest of the lattice support in the acquired single post-deformation SAR image;
• e) determining one or more actual positions in the given reference coordinate system associated with the acquired single post-deformation SAR image of the predefined points of interest identified in said single post-deformation SAR image, said one or more actual positions identifying at least one part of said plurality of parts of the lattice support, that is affected by said deformation;
• f) making a comparison between the expected positions of said lattice support of the predefined points of interest and the one or more corresponding actual positions in the single post-deformation acquired SAR image of said lattice support;
• and
• g) detecting one or more deformations of said lattice support on the basis of the comparison made.