A Flexible System for the Generation of Interferometric SAR Products

Abstract

With the increasing application of SAR interferometry the need for interferometric products is developing rapidly. While the algorithms for phase unwrapping are still being developed, upcoming missions like the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission are calling for stable and operational high throughput systems to generate continent wide Digital Elevation Maps (DEMs). At the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) a modular interferometry system is being developed that bridges the aforementioned controversies. Due to the multithreaded architecture it takes full advantage of multiprocessor computers while it can run on small workstations as well. The system takes its flexibility from a modular concept: new input modules can easily connect to new SAR data sources, different phase unwrapping modules can be plugged in and compared. Subsets of the available modules comprise a pre–operational InSAR processor for ERS–1/2 Tandem data, while the overall system is also used as a development and research platform. The paper presents the architecture and the algorithms involved as well as throughput examples in the current configuration. Sample results from the field of differential interferometry and from topographic mapping experiments are presente.