Recovering radar shadow to improve interferometric phase unwrapping and DEM reconstruction

Author

Eineder, Michael ; Suchandt, Steffen

Author_Institution

Remote Sensing Technol. Inst., German Aerosp. Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

Volume

41

Issue

12

fYear

2003

Firstpage

2959

Lastpage

2962

Abstract

This letter presents a new approach to actively use radar shadow in order to unwrap and geocode objects that cannot be reconstructed by synthetic aperture radar interferometry alone. This new algorithm may significantly improve phase unwrapping and digital elevation model reconstruction in mountainous topography or in urban areas. The algorithm is explained and examples are given with data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, where shadow is a serious problem in Alpine terrain.

Keywords

radiowave interferometry; remote sensing by radar; terrain mapping; topography (Earth); DEM reconstruction; Shuttle Radar Topography Mission; alpine terrain; digital elevation model reconstruction; geocode; interferometric phase unwrapping; mountainous topography; radar shadow; urban areas; Antenna measurements; Extraterrestrial measurements; Image reconstruction; Layout; Phase estimation; Phase measurement; Phase noise; Radar imaging; Radar measurements; Surfaces;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TGRS.2003.821266

Filename

1260636