Remote Sensing for Ground Improvement Performance Verification—Hydrocarbon Storage Tanks Constructed on Deep Soil Mix Columns

InSAR satellite-based settlement monitoring was performed on a 47.3-m diameter 18.3-m tall tank constructed over deep soil mix columns. Design settlement calculations estimated perimeter settlements between 60 and 90 mm. InSAR-based settlement measurements conducted over 1,792 days showed undulations corresponding to draining and filling operations and settlements between 52.4 and 70.4 mm at four locations on the tank perimeter. A calibrated soil-ground improvement model was developed to assess the validity of the InSAR settlements. Settlements predicted by the soil-ground improvement settlement model agreed with the InSAR measurements. The model also indicated the tank was between one-quarter and one-half full during the monitoring period, which explains why the InSAR detected and modeled settlements were less than the original settlement calculations. This study shows that InSAR can be used to monitor settlements of hydrocarbon storage tanks constructed over improved ground successfully.