ESPOL’s Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) led a study published in the journal Environmental Challenges (Q1), which analyzes the surface deformation of volcanoes in northern Ecuador using the Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) technique. The study used Sentinel-1 satellite images acquired between 2017 and 2024, focusing on the Pichincha and Cayambe volcanic complexes, as well as the Pululahua volcano.
The study evaluated ground deformation patterns using interferometric processing and multitemporal analysis. The results identified signs of inflation and deflation associated with internal changes in volcanic systems, with low-magnitude activity observed at Guagua Pichincha and Pululahua. In the case of the Cayambe Volcanic Complex, more complex dynamics were observed, possibly related to tectonic and anthropogenic factors.
This study demonstrates the potential of InSAR satellite techniques as non-invasive tools for volcanic monitoring, especially in regions with limited ground-based instrumentation. The results provide relevant information to strengthen volcanic surveillance, risk management, and decision-making in the face of potential natural hazards in the country.
Faculty members and researchers from FICT participated in this research, along with collaborators from the Università degli Studi di Cagliari (Italy) and the Technical University of Manabí. The study is part of institutional efforts to promote applied research and the use of geospatial technologies to contribute to sustainable development and public safety.
Participating researchers
FICT – ESPOL
Gianella Bravo Murillo, MSc.
Diego Capa Sarango, MSc.
Valeria Vaca Molina, Ing.
Victoria Rosado Zambrano, Ing.
Nadia Lagasca Loaiza, MSc.
Maurizio Mulas, PhD.
Collaboration
Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Gianella Bravo Murillo, MSc.
Research Group: Geomatics and Agriculture 4.0, School of Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Manabí, Portoviejo, Manabí, Ecuador
Henry Pacheco Gil, PhD.
DOI: 2026.101508
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 15: Life on Land
