We explore new possibilities offered by the recently available X-band satellite radar sensors for landslide
hazard assessments on a detailed scale, with particular reference to the exploitation of Persistent Scatterers
Interferometry (PSI) techniques. Special attention is paid to the impact of the improved resolution of new Xband
radar imagery on the PSI results, in terms of quality and quantity of useful information. This evaluation
is supported by theoretical modelling as well as by the comparison of results from X-band (CSK) and C-band
(ENVISAT) PSI for two areas of interest: one in Italy and the other in Switzerland. It is demonstrated that with
respect to medium resolution ENVISAT PS processing, fewer CSK high resolution images are sufficient to
achieve comparable precision of the mean displacement velocity estimates. This, together with the shorter
revisit times provided by the CSK constellation, can be very important when dealing with emergency situations.
Furthermore, it is quantified that from about 3 to 11 times greater PS densities are obtained with the
higher resolution X-band data. This implies more information about ground surface displacements as well
as improved landslide monitoring and slope instability investigation capabilities. Furthermore, ground displacement
measurements can be interpreted without local knowledge of the focus area or in situ controls,
and, nonetheless, guide single hillslope instability assessments with support of Google Earth and its high resolution
optical imagery. This “blind” approach will allow one to monitor remote and poorly known regions at
high risk of potentially disastrous slope failures.