The development of a scientific permanent scatterer system

Abstract

DLR has achieved many years’ experience concerning space born radar interferometry. The interferometric system GENESIS was improved and extended for different projects, e.g. for differential interferometry (D-InSAR) and for highly specialised missions as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Recently, a POLIMI researcher team invented the permanent scatterer technique and demonstrated the capability to monitor displacements in urban areas with millimetre accuracy. This new processing allows innovative data products and permits completely new geophysical applications. Consequently, DLR's interferometry system is extended also for this new processing technique. The implemented processing system is currently at the stage of a scientific development and research platform. The development from a scientific via a semi-operational and finally into an operational system is ongoing. In this paper the developed permanent scatterer system is presented and examples are shown for processing products as displacement maps, evolution in time of single scatterers, atmospheric phase screen, digital elevation model (DEM) updates, super resolution images, calibrated radar scenes and radiometric improved images. Moreover, results from current projects are presented.