Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar Images Research Articles

Squint-mode InISAR imaging based on nonlinear least square and coordinates transform

Aiming at the interferometric inverse synthetic aperture radar (InISAR) imaging in the presence of squint, we investigate the influence of squint on the InISAR imaging. First, coupling of the squint additive phase and the target azimuth/altitude coordinates to be solved may make the solution more difficult. Second, the squint angle may lead to estimation error of the vertical coordinates and distortion of the ultimate image. Traditional InISAR imaging algorithms can not solve the above two problems effectively, so we propose a new method which combines the nonlinear least square (NLS) and coordinates transform (CT) to estimate the target coordinates, and a three-dimensional (3-D) image consistent with the real target is obtained accordingly. Simulations show that the proposed method is effective for the squint-mode InISAR imaging.

Reply to "Comment on 'Near-Surface Location, Geometry, and Velocities of the Santa Monica Fault Zone, Los Angeles, California' by R. D. Catchings, G. Gandhok, M. R. Goldman, D. Okaya, M. J. Rymer, and G. W. Bawden" by T. L. Pratt and J. F. Dolan

In a comment on our 2008 paper (Catchings, Gandhok, et al. , 2008) on the Santa Monica fault in Los Angeles, California, Pratt and Dolan (2010) (herein referred to as P&D) cite numerous objections to our work, inferring that our study is flawed. However, as shown in our reply, their objections contradict their own published works, published works of others, and proven seismic methodologies. Rather than responding to each repeated invalid objection, we address their objections by topic in the subsequent sections. In Catchings, Gandhok, et al. (2008), we presented high-resolution seismic-reflection images that showed two near-surface faults in the upper 50 m beneath the grounds of the Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital (WVAH). Although P&D suggest we effectively duplicated their seismic acquisition, our survey was not a duplication of their efforts. Rather, we conducted a seismic-imaging survey over a similar profile as Pratt et al. (1998) but used a different data acquisition system and different data processing methods to evaluate methods of seismically imaging blind faults in the wake of the 17 January 1994 M 6.7 Northridge earthquake. We used an acquisition method that provides both tomographic seismic velocities and reflection images. Our combined-data approach allowed for shallower imaging (∼2.5 m minimum) than the ∼20-m minimum of Pratt et al. (1998), clearer images of the fault zone, and more accurate depth determinations (rather than time images). In processing the reflection images, we used prestack depth migration, which is generally accepted as the only proper imaging method for imaging subsurface structures with strong lateral velocity variations (Versteeg, 1993), a condition shown to exist at the WVAH site. We correlated our reflection images with refraction tomography images, borehole lithology, and velocity data, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar images, and changes in groundwater depths. Except for some minor differences, our seismic-reflection images coincide with previously published seismic-reflection …

Multi-patch and centre-expansion algorithms for phase unwrapping of large InSAR images with dense residues

To recover original full phase values in inherently wrapped output, phase unwrapping has been one of the key techniques in digital image processing. However, to unwrap the phase of a large interferogram with dense residues, a conventional path-following algorithm may produce retrieval errors caused by placing long branch cuts and repetitive connection of residues. In this paper, two unwrapping algorithms, the method of multiple patches connecting opposite residues and the method of centre expansion searching opposite residues, are presented. Some examples of Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT) Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) datasets demonstrate improvement compared to conventional methods in Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data processing.

Ground surface deformation patterns, magma supply, and magma storage at Okmok volcano, Alaska, from InSAR analysis: 1. Intereruption deformation, 1997–2008

Starting soon after the 1997 eruption at Okmok volcano and continuing until the start of the 2008 eruption, magma accumulated in a storage zone centered ∼3.5 km beneath the caldera floor at a rate that varied with time. A Mogi‐type point pressure source or finite sphere with a radius of 1 km provides an adequate fit to the deformation field portrayed in time‐sequential interferometric synthetic aperture radar images. From the end of the 1997 eruption through summer 2004, magma storage increased by 3.2–4.5 × 107 m3, which corresponds to 75–85% of the magma volume erupted in 1997. Thereafter, the average magma supply rate decreased such that by 10 July 2008, 2 days before the start of the 2008 eruption, magma storage had increased by 3.7–5.2 × 107 m3 or 85–100% of the 1997 eruption volume. We propose that the supply rate decreased in response to the diminishing pressure gradient between the shallow storage zone and a deeper magma source region. Eventually the effects of continuing magma supply and vesiculation of stored magma caused a critical pressure threshold to be exceeded, triggering the 2008 eruption. A similar pattern of initially rapid inflation followed by oscillatory but generally slowing inflation was observed prior to the 1997 eruption. In both cases, withdrawal of magma during the eruptions depressurized the shallow storage zone, causing significant volcano‐wide subsidence and initiating a new intereruption deformation cycle.

SAR Calibration Aided by Permanent Scatterers

We propose a calibration method suitable for a set of repeated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) acquisitions that uses both absolute calibrated devices (such as corner reflectors) and stable targets identified in the scene [the permanent scatterers (PSs)]. Precisely, the role of the PS is to extend the initial calibration sequence by monitoring the radiometric stability of the system throughout the whole mission life span. At a first step, this paper approaches the problem of PS-based normalization by an iterative maximum-likelihood method that exploits the stack of complex interferometric SAR images. Two solutions are given based on different assumptions on the PS phases. As a second step, the merging of these estimates with the available calibration information is discussed. Results achieved by experimental acquisitions are shown in two different SAR systems: 1) a C-band spaceborne SAR and 2) a Ku-band ground-based SAR.

Coherence estimation method and its application to phase unwrapping

Coherence of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) complex image pair is a fundamental observable in interferometric radar measurements, which is usually measured by comparing the radar return across several nearby radar image pixels and has found diverse applications. This paper proposes a coherence estimation method which requires three arbitrary parts of the two complex images to implement interference. The proposed method can also be used to co-register InSAR image pair, which means that the imaginary part of the master image can be left away. In addition, an improved quality-guided phase unwrapping method is forwarded with the quality map generated by the coherence estimation method we have recommended above. A look-up table is adopted to reduce the processing time. The experimental results show that both methods are effective and greatly reduce the phase unwrapping time compared with the existing quality-guided methods.

InSAR mapping and modelling of an active Iranian salt extrusion

Abstract: Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) imaging is a powerful technique that is increasingly used to extract detailed 3D information on Earth surface structures, including exposed diapiric surfaces. We have used InSAR to map, for the first time, the cumulative surface deformation in a 6 km × 6 km region surrounding an active salt diapir (Syahoo) and its associated surface salt flow (or namakier) exposed in the Zagros Mountains of southern Iran. Images provided by the European Space Agency were acquired in 12 increments (ranging in length between 35 and 1248 days) over a 14 year interval between July 1992 and May 2006. The deformation of the salt surface is non-steady, with (extrapolated) rates of displacement varying between surficial uplifts of +1.4 mm day −1 (+511 mm a −1 ) and subsidence of −2.2 mm day −1 (−803 mm a −1 ). Growth of a central topographic dome occurs following short wet intervals to create a salt fountain morphology, which then slowly decays during the intervening long dry periods. Salt associated with dynamic ‘bulging' of the central dome during wet intervals may flow laterally via gravity spreading into the surrounding salt sheet, resulting in deflation and subsidence of the dome, which is counteracted by growth and inflation of the adjacent namakiers. Salt ‘bulges' that migrate down the namakier, resulting in local inflationary and deflationary cycles of the surface, may be regarded as episodic pulses of gravity spreading. Areas of inflation and deflation are also observed to commonly reverse during dry to wet periods, as the overall salt system effectively self regulates as it continually strives for dynamic equilibrium. As long as the source of salt remains undepleted, gravity spreading of the dome ultimately results in more buoyancy-driven salt flowing up the diapiric neck to replenish and feed the extrusion and maintain the gross fountain morphology.

Along-track interferometric SAR imaging based on distributed compressed sensing

For synthetic aperture radar (SAR), imaging based on compressed sensing (CS) can reconstruct the target scene with a reduced number of collected samples. But for a multi-channel along-track interferometric (ATI) SAR, the number of samples required could also be huge even though the CS processing is adopted. In this reported work, distributed compressed sensing (DCS) is introduced into ATI SAR. The ATI SAR based on DCS can achieve good performance and requires even fewer samples than that based on CS.

Mitigation of Atmospheric Water-vapour Effects on Spaceborne Interferometric SAR Imaging through the MM5 Numerical Model

Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) imaging is a well established technique to derive useful products for several land applications. One of the major limitations of InSAR is due to atmospheric efiects, and in particular to high water vapor variability. In this work, we make an experimental analysis to research the capability of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models as MM5 to produce high resolution (1km{500m) maps of Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) in the atmosphere to mitigate the well-known disturbances that afiect the radar signal while traveling from the sensor to the ground and back. Experiments have been conducted over the area surrounding Rome using ERS data acquired during the three days phase in '94 and using Envisat data acquired in recent years. By means of the PS technique SAR data have been processed and the Atmospheric Phase Screen (APS) of Slave images with respect to a reference Master have been extracted. MM5 provides realistic water vapor distribution flelds that can be converted into electromagnetic slant delays. PSInSAR APS's have then been compared to MM5 IWV maps revealing interesting results. MM5 IWV maps have a much lower resolution than PSInSAR APS's: the turbulent term of the atmospheric vapor fleld cannot be well resolved by MM5, at least with the low resolution ECMWF inputs. However, the vapor distribution term that depends on the local topography has been found quite in accordance. In this work, we will present experimental results as well as discussions over the adopted processing strategy.

Joint Regularization of Phase and Amplitude of InSAR Data: Application to 3-D Reconstruction

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images suffer from a strong noise, and their regularization is often a prerequisite for successful use of their information. Independently of the unwrapping problem, interferometric phase denoising is a difficult task due to shadows and discontinuities. In this paper, we propose to jointly filter phase and amplitude data in a Markovian framework. The regularization term is expressed by the minimization of the total variation and may combine different information (phase, amplitude, optical data). First, a fast and approximate optimization algorithm for vectorial data is briefly presented. Then, two applications are described. The first one is a direct application of this algorithm for 3-D reconstruction in urban areas with very high resolution images. The second one is an adaptation of this framework to the fusion of SAR and optical data. Results on aerial SAR images are presented.

Permanent Scatterer investigation of land subsidence in Greater Cairo, Egypt

SUMMARY Land subsidence is a major geomorphic problem commonly associated with densely populated areas, such as the Greater Cairo area. Prior to this study, rates and patterns of land subsidence in Greater Cairo were not known. The Permanent Scatterer interferometric approach has been applied in this study to detect and measure the magnitude and the spatial and temporal variations of subsidence in Greater Cairo. Thirty-four Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) images acquired by the European Radar Satellites (ERS-1 and ERS-2) during 1993–2000 have been used in this investigation. The main contributing factors to the rate of land subsidence in Greater Cairo include natural sediment compaction, tectonic activity and groundwater pumping. However, the measured rate of land subsidence is found significantly impacted by anthropogenic factors rather than natural factors. The average measured rate of subsidence is approximately 7 mm yr −1 during the period of observation, and the spatial and temporal patterns of land subsidence are demonstrated by a time-series of surface deformation maps. InSAR results show differential surface displacements along the major surface and subsurface faults and indicate pumping-induced subsidence, which is characterized by bowl shapes, in districts of high population density. The detected pattern of land subsidence in Greater Cairo implies a considerable contribution from the subway network as well. The results from this interferometric investigation can be used to help mitigate the environmental impacts and potential consequences of land subsidence in the region.

Helmand River Hydrologic Studies Using ALOS PALSAR InSAR and ENVISAT Altimetry

The Helmand River wetland represents the only fresh-water resource in southern Afghanistan and one of the least mapped water basins in the world. The relatively narrow wetland consists of mostly marshes surrounded by dry lands. In this study, we demonstrate the use of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) Interferometric SAR (InSAR) to detect the changes of the Helmand River wetland water level. InSAR images are combined with the geocentric water level measurements from the retracked high-rate (18-Hz) Environmental Satellite (Envisat) radar altimetry to construct absolute water level changes over the marshes. It is demonstrated that the integration of the altimeter and InSAR can provide spatio-temporal measurements of water level variation over the Helmand River marshes where in situ measurements are absent.

A Characterization of Shannon Entropy and Bhattacharyya Measure of Contrast in Polarimetric and Interferometric SAR Image

We analyze the application of Shannon entropy and Bhattacharyya distance for the characterization of polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar (PolInSAR) images. We discuss the relevance of the decomposition of the Shannon entropy of a homogeneous region into the sum of three physically meaningful terms that depend respectively on intensity, polarimetry, and interferometry. We also discuss an analogous decomposition property for the Bhattacharyya distance, which is an efficient measure of the contrast between two regions. We illustrate the application of this approach for analyzing different contributions in the information content of PolInSAR images.

Analysis of synthetic aperture radar image characteristics for seismic disasters in the Wenchuan earthquake

More than 69,000 people died following the magnitude 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008. Bad weather hampered relief efforts, and in some cases rescuers had to trek into the disaster area on foot and search for trapped survivors by hand as roads were blocked by debris. Due to travel difficulties, spatial information needs to be extracted in the disaster area by remote sensing techniques. The main problem focused on in this paper is how to use the all-weather and all-day/night capability of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to extract primary seismic disaster information after the earthquake. Using air- and space-borne SAR images with different bands, polarizations and incidence angles, including multi-polarization X-band air-borne data, C-band polarimetric Radarsat-2, X-band TerraSAR-X with high resolution, multi-polarization X-band COSMO-SkyMed and L-band multi-polarization ALOS-PalSAR space-borne data, we perform image characteristics analysis of landslides. Obvious differences can be recognized between old and new landsides in SAR images with different bands. Multi-polarization SAR can play an important role in landslide discrimination. Two SAR images at different incidence angles do not provide much more information if the difference between the two angles is small. Landslide recognition accuracy strongly depends on the direction of view, especially for large incidence angles, in which case the characteristic difference for landslide recognition is great. There are different polarization responses between a landslide and its surroundings that can be used to recognize the landslide. Interferometric SAR images, on the other hand, do not provide good recognition capability due to temporal decorrelation and resolution. Meanwhile, information extraction of barrier lakes using different resolution and incidence angle SAR images is analyzed in this paper; small incidence angles and high resolutions improve the object recognition and information extraction of barrier lakes.

Quantifying Sub-pixel Urban Impervious Surface through Fusion of Optical and InSAR Imagery

In this study, we explored the potential to improve urban impervious surface modeling and mapping with the synergistic use of optical and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) imagery. We used a Classification and Regression Tree (CART)-based approach to test the feasibility and accuracy of quantifying Impervious Surface Percentage (ISP) using four spectral bands of SPOT 5 high-resolution geometric (HRG) imagery and three parameters derived from the European Remote Sensing (ERS)-2 Single Look Complex (SLC) SAR image pair. Validated by an independent ISP reference dataset derived from the 33 cm-resolution digital aerial photographs, results show that the addition of InSAR data reduced the ISP modeling error rate from 15.5% to 12.9% and increased the correlation coefficient from 0.71 to 0.77. Spatially, the improvement is especially noted in areas of vacant land and bare ground, which were incorrectly mapped as urban impervious surfaces when using the optical remote sensing data. In addition, the accuracy of ISP prediction using InSAR images alone is only marginally less than that obtained by using SPOT imagery. The finding indicates the potential of using InSAR data for frequent monitoring of urban settings located in cloud-prone areas.

A Model-Spectrum-Based Flattening Algorithm for Airborne Single-Pass SAR Interferometry

An effective method is proposed to remove the flat-Earth phase (i.e., flattening) in airborne single-pass interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) imaging. Two conventional flattening methods, namely, the orbit-equation algorithm and the fringe-frequency algorithm, are used for comparison. The orbit-equation algorithm is theoretically accurate, but the orbit ephemeris that it requires is maybe inaccurate or even unknown. The fringe-frequency algorithm is effective in spaceborne InSAR flattening, but in airborne cases, a phase trend will remain in the residual interferogram with this method. To overcome these limitations, this letter presents a novel flattening algorithm by combining the two conventional methods for airborne single-pass InSAR flattening. By exploiting a reasonable model of the flat-Earth phase and the spectrum information of the practical interferogram, the proposed algorithm is able to flatten the interferogram accurately without knowledge of the airplane trajectory (except for the airplane height). Finally, some experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed flattening algorithm.

Improvement of the Accuracy of InSAR Image Co-Registration Based On Tie Points – A Review

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a new measurement technology, making use of the phase information contained in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. InSAR has been recognized as a potential tool for the generation of digital elevation models (DEMs) and the measurement of ground surface deformations. However, many critical factors affect the quality of InSAR data and limit its applications. One of the factors is InSAR data processing, which consists of image co-registration, interferogram generation, phase unwrapping and geocoding. The co-registration of InSAR images is the first step and dramatically influences the accuracy of InSAR products. In this paper, the principle and processing procedures of InSAR techniques are reviewed. One of important factors, tie points, to be considered in the improvement of the accuracy of InSAR image co-registration are emphatically reviewed, such as interval of tie points, extraction of feature points, window size for tie point matching and the measurement for the quality of an interferogram.

Volcano Deformation and Gravity Workshop Synopsis and Outcomes: The 2008 Volcano Deformation and Temporal Gravity Change Workshop; Vancouver, Washington, 13–15 May 2008

A volcano workshop was held in Washington State, near the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cascades Volcano Observatory. The workshop, hosted by the USGS Volcano Hazards Program (VHP), included more than 40 participants from the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Goals were to promote (1) collaboration among scientists working on active volcanoes and (2) development of new tools for studying volcano deformation. The workshop focused on conventional and emerging techniques, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), borehole strain, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), gravity, and electromagnetic imaging, and on the roles of aqueous and magmatic fluids.

Regional landslide forecasting model using interferometric SAR images

Method of obtaining landslide evaluating information by using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technique was discussed. More precision landslide surface deformation data extracted from InSAR image need take suitable SAR interferometric data selecting, path tracking, phase unwrapping processes. Then, the DEM model of scope and surface shape of the landslide was built. Combining with geological property of landslide and sliding displacements obtained from InSAR/D-InSAR images, a new landslide forecasting model called equal central angle slice method for those not obviously deformed landslides was put forward. This model breaks the limits of traditional research methods of geology. In this model, the landslide safety factor was calculated by equal central angle slice method, then considering the persistence ratio of the sliding surface based on plastic theory, the minimum safety factor was the phase when plastic area were complete persistence. This new model makes the application of InSAR/D-InSAR technology become more practical in geology hazard research.

Radar Imaging of Urban Areas by Means of Very High-Resolution SAR and Interferometric SAR

In remote-sensing applications, the monitoring of urban areas by means of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors has grown into a valuable and indispensable tool. Although SAR imaging with a spatial resolution down to 1 m is widespread, a resolution as fine as 10 cm and below is offered only by very few SAR sensors worldwide. In this paper, the potential of very high-resolution radar imaging of urban areas by means of SAR and interferometric imaging will be demonstrated and discussed. Results of urban SAR imaging down to subdecimeter resolution will be shown. Even though the immanent layover situation in urban areas is an obstacle to simple image understanding, a remedy can be found by using interferometric SAR imaging. Interferometric results based on very high-resolution SAR images acquired over urban areas, partially with a severe layover situation, will be presented. The corresponding data was acquired with the phased array multifunctional imaging radar (PAMIR), the X-band demonstrator of the Research Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR), Forschungsgesellschaft fur Angewandte Naturwissenschaften (FGAN), Wachtberg, Germany. It can be stated that high-resolution interferometric SAR will be an important basis for upcoming radar-based urban analysis.