Spatially detailed mapping of settlement patterns using SAR data of the TanDEM-X mission

Author

Esch, Thomas ; Felbier, Andreas ; Heldens, Wieke ; Marconcini, Mattia ; Roth, Andrei ; Taubenbock, Hannes

Author_Institution

Earth Obs. Center (EOC), German Aerosp. Center (DLR), Wessling, Germany

fYear

2013

fDate

21-23 April 2013

Abstract

The German satellite mission `TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement (TanDEM-X)´ aims at the collection of two global data sets of very high resolution (VHR) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for the years 2011 and 2012. With a spatial resolution of around three meters, these X-band SAR images provide a valuable source for the identification and delineation of built-up areas at a unique spatial detail with respect to global data sets available so far. This paper describes the methodological approach towards the fully operational mapping of human settlements based on TanDEM-X data, presents first results of the global analysis and gives an outlook on potential urban follow-up products that might also be derived from the TanDEM-X data base.

Keywords

geophysical image processing; image resolution; radar imaging; remote sensing by radar; synthetic aperture radar; German satellite mission TerraSAR-X add-on; SAR data; TanDEM-X database; TanDEM-X mission; VHR SAR imagery; X-band SAR images; built-up area delineation; built-up area identification; digital elevation measurement; global data sets; human settlement fully operational mapping; settlement patterns; spatially detailed mapping; very high resolution synthetic aperture radar imagery; Accuracy; Buildings; Remote sensing; Spatial resolution; Synthetic aperture radar; Time division multiplexing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Urban Remote Sensing Event (JURSE), 2013 Joint

Conference_Location

Sao Paulo

Print_ISBN

978-1-4799-0213-2

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4799-0212-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/JURSE.2013.6550661

Filename

6550661