TerraSAR-X: Complex Image Inversion for Feature Extraction

In this paper we present two algorithms for information extraction from Single Look Complex (SLC) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. The first algorithm is based on Tikhonov regularization with Total Variation (TV) and a Point-Based Feature (PBF) term. Based on the equivalence of Tikhonov and the Bayesian estimate, the second algorithm is a Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) estimation with a complex-valued Gauss-Markov Random Field (GMRF) in addition to the TV prior. The first algorithm produces a despeckled image preserving fine details and texture. The second algorithm gives a denoised image and in addition the estimated feature parameter vector thetas.