On the use of gis data for realistic SAR simulation of large urban scenes

The realistic simulation of SAR images of large urban scenes poses several challenges. While the sheer size of the scenarios and the handling of a multitude of polygons in urban 3D models can be solved by efficient ray tracing algorithms, the assignment of material properties to different parts of the model and the simulation of realistic areas of high vegetation are difficult to achieve. In this paper ways to overcome these problems are addressed, using Open Street Map (OSM) for the assignment of materials and the automatic placement of 3D tree models in forest areas outlined by OSM polygons.