MIMIC project combines InSAR satellite data with structural models for infrastructure monitoring

The MIMIC project, a Demonstrator project funded by NWO (the Dutch Research Council), is developing an integrated monitoring approach that combines Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) satellite observations with structural engineering models to support maintenance planning and risk assessment for infrastructure such as bridges and quay walls. The project responds to increasing pressure on infrastructure assets from ageing, heavier operational loads, and changing environmental conditions.

InSAR is a satellite-based technology capable of detecting ground and structural movements with millimetre-level precision across large areas. While InSAR provides detailed deformation data, displacement measurements alone do not necessarily indicate structural deterioration or damage. MIMIC addresses this limitation through a mechanism-specific approach that links measured movements to particular deformation processes and structural behaviour. As the project team states: "A displacement of a few millimetres may be acceptable for one structure under normal conditions, while the same magnitude of displacement in another location, or affecting a critical structural component, may indicate the onset of damage or even an increased risk of failure."

The project builds on PhD research conducted by Hao Kuai, which established the foundations for integrating InSAR data with numerical models. MIMIC is led by principal investigator Giorgia Giardina, described as an expert in the combination of InSAR and structural mechanics, alongside co-investigators Mandy Korff and Francesco Messali. Korff contributes specialist knowledge of soil behaviour and foundation engineering, focusing on how geotechnical processes influence the performance of buildings and infrastructure. Messali brings expertise in the structural mechanics of masonry structures and contributes to the development of advanced numerical models underpinning the project's methodology. Hao Kuai will serve as postdoctoral researcher within the project.

The NWO Demonstrator instrument is designed to facilitate the transfer of developed tools and minimum viable products (MVPs) to third-party organisations, in this case companies that provide satellite-based monitoring services, with the aim of making research outcomes market-ready. The MIMIC project's sounding board includes representatives from the City of Amsterdam, the City of Utrecht, the Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works, Deltares, AECOM, Witteveen+Bos, and Royal HaskoningDHV.