Opposite side ERS-1 SAR stereo mapping over rolling topography

Abstract

Opposite-side radar stereo images have been considered unsuitable for stereo viewing due to illumination differences which limit the ability to identify the same features in the image pair. In some contexts, like a rolling topography (slope less than 10/spl deg/), the shadow, layover, and foreshortening effects, specific to radar images, will not be overwhelming with an opposite-side stereo pair. This paper reports on some issues of stereo viewing and plotting, as well as on quantitative results of mapping and features extraction from ascending and descending orbit ERS-1 SAR stereo images. Planimetric accuracy of 17 m and altimetric accuracy of 23.9 m have been achieved for lake shorelines and DEM extractions, respectively. Impacts of different parameters on the accuracy are also evaluated.