Towards Geodetic Measurements From SAR Satellites

Abstract

In this talk we report on recent developments that may turn space borne imaging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems into geodetic measurement devices. We highlight the differences between the well established SAR interferometry (InSAR) technique and newer high resolution image correlation techniques (HRICT). While SAR interferometry provides high relative spatial accuracy at the cost of ambiguity problems, HRICT performes absolute measurements at the cost of reduced accuracy. Different error sources such as orbital errors, atmospheric propagation, solid earth tides influence SAR and HRICT in different ways. In our talk we will also report on recent developments regarding the correction of the named error source using GPS stations and weather models. Our talk will be accompanied by examples from recent events such as the Japan earthquake from 11.3.2011.