Brief communication: Radar images for monitoring informal urban settlements in vulnerable zones in Lima, Peru

Lima, Peru's capital, has about 9.6 million inhabitants and keeps attracting more residents searching for a better life. Many citizens, without access to housing subsidies, live in informal housing and shack settlements. A typical social phenomenon in Lima is the sudden illegal occupation of areas for urban settlements. When such areas are unsafe against natural hazards, it is important to relocate such a population to avoid significant future losses. In this communication, we present an application of Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to map the extension of a recent occupation of an area with unfavorable soil conditions against earthquakes.

Automated summary

Lima, the capital of Peru, attracts a large number of residents in search of a better life. Many citizens live in informal housing and shack settlements due to lack of housing subsidies. A common social phenomenon in Lima is the illegal occupation of urban areas. When such areas are unsafe due to natural hazards, it is crucial to relocate the population to prevent future losses. This study demonstrates the use of Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to map the extent of a recent illegal occupation in an area with unfavorable soil conditions against earthquakes.