Abstract
Satellite remote sensing provides a powerful instrument for mapping and monitoring traces of historical settlements and infrastructure, not only in distant areas and crisis regions. It helps archaeologists to embed their findings from field surveys into the broader context of the landscape. With the start of the TanDEM-X mission, spatially explicit 3D-information is available to researchers at an unprecedented resolution worldwide. We examined different experimental TanDEM-X digital elevation models (DEM) that were processed from two different imaging modes (Stripmap/High Resolution Spotlight) using the operational alternating bistatic acquisition mode. The quality and accuracy of the experimental DEM products was compared to other available DEM products and a high precision archaeological field survey. The results indicate the potential of TanDEM-X Stripmap (SM) data for mapping surface elements at regional scale. For the alluvial plain of Cilicia, a suspected palaeochannel could be reconstructed. At the local scale, DEM products from TanDEM-X High Resolution Spotlight (HS) mode were processed at 2 m spatial resolution using a merge of two monostatic/bistatic interferograms. The absolute and relative vertical accuracy of the outcome meet the specification of high resolution elevation data (HRE) standards from the National System for Geospatial Intelligence (NSG) at the HRE20 level.
Highlights
The interpretation of remote sensing data has provided a useful tool in the support of archaeological field work for decades [1,2,3,4]
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) C-band digital elevation models (DEM) performs significantly better in terms of AV compared to the ASTER GDEM
As part of the TanDEM-X Science mission, raw TanDEM-X data in different imaging modes are exclusively available to scientific users for the evaluation of new scientific applications of satellite based high resolution interferometric SAR (InSAR) products
Summary
The interpretation of remote sensing data has provided a useful tool in the support of archaeological field work for decades [1,2,3,4]. The major advantage of SAR over optical data, besides the weather independency, is the ability to penetrate the topsoil layer in the magnitude of multiple wavelengths and the opportunity to detect buried archaeological features when vegetation cover is absent Another factor in SAR analysis is the capability to capture the earth surface in 3D by means of interferometric SAR (InSAR). A major advance in SAR remote sensing was the extension of the TerraSAR-X system with a twin-satellite in 2010 flying in close formation (TanDEM-X, TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements) [28,29] This constellation enables the acquisition of highly accurate across-track interferograms for the computation of InSAR products.
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