Introduction: In recent years, the water crisis and the depletion of water resources have become one of the main challenges in natural resource management in the country. Kermanshah Province has not been exempt from this trend and is facing a significant decline in groundwater resources and a critical situation regarding these resources. Statistical analyses indicate that out of the 23 study areas in the province, at least 13 plains are in a prohibited status, and two plains are in a critically prohibited status. The plains of Sahneh, Kangavar, Chamchamal, Mianrahan and Sonqor are among the areas where the critical status of groundwater resources is clearly evident. This concerning situation further underscores the necessity of a detailed study of the region's hydrogeological conditions.

Material & Method: In this context, this research investigates land subsidence in five plains of Kermanshah Province (Sahneh, Kangavar, Chamchamal, Mianrahan, and Sonqor) using the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) radar technique over the period from 2015 to 2023. To validate the results, data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and field observations were employed, and the regression coefficient and RMSE between GNSS and PSI data was calculated.

Result and Discussion: Validation results showed that the regression coefficient between GNSS and PSI data for the Sonqor and Sahneh plains was 0.76 and 0.75, respectively. Furthermore, field visits to areas exhibiting subsidence provided corroborating evidence of land subsidence occurring in the studied plains and confirmed the accuracy of the research output. The findings also highlighted that the highest subsidence rate during the study period occurred in Kangavar Plain (10–20 mm), while the lowest rate was observed in Sonqor Plain (3–5 mm). Chamchamal Plain, with subsidence of 14–16 mm in its central and eastern areas; Sahneh Plain, with a maximum of 15 mm subsidence in its southern and central regions; and Mianrahan Plain, with 9 mm subsidence in its central and southern zones, ranked next in terms of subsidence magnitude. Additionally, the results confirmed a direct relationship (with a regression coefficient of 0.71) between groundwater level decline and subsidence rate across all studied plains. Furthermore, high density of exploitation wells, the presence of illegal wells, and the thickness of alluvial deposits were identified as factors influencing the intensity of subsidence.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the use of modern remote sensing techniques, particularly the PSI technique, can play a key role in identifying and monitoring vertical ground movements caused by subsidence due to groundwater depletion. Ultimately, the findings of this research can assist planners and decision-makers in the fields of water resources and environmental management to adopt effective management measures (based on a more precise understanding of subsidence hazards) to mitigate the subsidence trend and preserve groundwater resources in the studied plains.