Advances of Remote Sensing for Earthquake and Fault Detection

Dear Colleagues,

Earthquakes represent one of the most devastating natural hazards on our planet, posing significant risks to human life and infrastructure. Understanding the mechanisms of earthquakes, the behaviour of active faults, and the associated crustal deformation processes is fundamental for seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation. Traditionally, our knowledge has been constrained by sparse ground-based geodetic networks and seismological recordings. However, the rapid evolution of spaceborne and airborne remote sensing technologies has revolutionized this field. Techniques such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and very-high-resolution optical imagery now provide unprecedented, synoptic-scale measurements of pre-, co-, and post-seismic deformation with millimetre-to-centimetre accuracy. This capability is crucial for identifying previously unknown active faults, constraining fault slip distributions, understanding strain accumulation and release cycles, and ultimately, improving our ability to forecast seismic risk.

This Special Issue, "Advances of Remote Sensing for Earthquake and Fault Detection," aims to compile high-quality research and review articles that showcase the latest methodological innovations and scientific discoveries in applying remote sensing to seismotectonics. We seek contributions that demonstrate how cutting-edge satellite and aerial remote sensing data can be leveraged to probe the earthquake cycle. This theme aligns perfectly with the journal's scope of promoting the development and application of remote sensing technologies for understanding Earth's systems, monitoring geohazards, and fostering interdisciplinary research that bridges geophysics, geodesy, and image processing.

We invite original research articles and comprehensive review papers focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Mapping Active Faults: Using high-resolution optical imagery, DEMs, and geomorphic analysis.
• Crustal Deformation Monitoring: Advanced InSAR time-series (e.g., PSInSAR, SBAS) for inter-seismic strain mapping and post-seismic deformation.
• Co-seismic Rupture Characterization: Integrating InSAR, pixel offset tracking, and optical correlation to model earthquake source parameters.
• Multi-hazard Assessment: Investigating earthquake-triggered landslides, liquefaction, and tsunamis using remote sensing.
• Synergistic Use of Multi-sensor Data: Combining SAR, optical, GNSS, and gravity data for a holistic view of the seismic cycle.

Dr. Ping He
Prof. Dr. Wei Qu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.