Normal and Differential SAR Interferometry

Abstract

SAR Interferometry explores the height structure inside a Radar pixel. Two antennas, separated with a so-called baseline distance ,in cross velocity direction, take two independent images from the same scene and compare the two phases which result from the same pixel at the two antennas. This phase difference compares to different distances between the Pixel and the two antennas and from this difference the height of the respective pixel, in relation to the altitude of the radar over a defined level, can be determined. The Interferogram formation will be explained and the respective terminology will be presented. In this context, basic relations and important geometrical and electrodynamics system parameters will be presented and defined. The phase unwrapping will be considered, as well as basic interferometry processing procedures and image formation principles. Coherence is the basis for interferometry as well as a careful calibration. Therefore, the role of interferometric coherence for image interpretation will be shown. Errors caused by phase noise, de-correlation, co-registration misalignment, atmospheric disturbances, baseline limits, etc,. will be considered. They principally are the main reasons for coherence degradation. Different interferometry modes: Cross Track and Along Track Interferometry, single and dual pass Interferometry, Differential Interferometry, and Permanent Scattering Interfererometry SAR will be discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA437507

Entities

People

  • Wolfgang Keydel

Organizations

  • German Aerospace Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Bandwidth
  • Change Detection
  • Databases
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Earth Sciences
  • Geometry
  • Information Science
  • Interferometry
  • Measurement
  • Radar
  • Remote Sensing
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Topography
  • Two Dimensional
  • Urban Areas

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design