COSMO-SkyMed and ALOS-1/2 X and L band multi-frequency results in satellite disaster monitoring

In this paper we introduce recent results of studies performed under the cooperated activities between Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) for disaster monitoring. Under this cooperation, we performed simulation study of coordinated observation by ALOS-2, COSMO-SkyMed and other SAR satellites in case of huge Nankai Trough Earthquake in Japan. The result proved that coordinated observation could improve observation frequency and reduce time to acquire seamless dataset over vast disaster areas. The COSMO-SkyMed PSInSAR study over Sakurajima in Japan revealed possible deformation caused by volcanic activities. We challenged flood detection case study by using both L band and X-band SAR images for developing semi-automatic discrimination of inundated areas in urban areas in northern Kyushu where were suffered by an unprecedented heavy rain in 2011. The comparative study to investigate the sensitivity of polarimetric parameters of L-band SAR and X band SARs shows the single image L band polarimetry provides effective information on landslides in mountainous area covered by vegetation.