Assessing Decade-Long Ground Deformation from Geological Influences to Urban Expansion Using Sentinel-1 PSI in the Region of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

The continuous analysis of ground deformation is essential for both the assessment of natural hazards and the monitoring of human-induced activities. In this study, we present the results of a Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) analysis of ground deformations in the region of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The PSI was performed using more than 10 years of Sentinel-1 ascending and descending Synthetic Aperture Radar data from 2014 to 2025, using a dual master approach. Results show significant displacements at many locations, including recently built-up areas at the edges of the city, often caused by the combined effect of anthropogenic activities and geological conditions. In this study, we highlight three case studies: the surroundings of a reclaimed mine, subsidence induced by dewatering, and a large-area, slow landslide, wherein we examined natural and anthropogenic influences. The accurately mapped and quantified ground deformations can be used for a better understanding of the geological processes and assessing the risk of the urban development in the area.