DLR's interferometric processor: technical details and applications

Abstract

The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data acquired from the satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2 and from the X-SAR mission facilitate a global and precise investigation of the Earths's surface. A pre-operational interferometric processor GENESIS for the generation of Digital Elevation Modells (DEMs) from these data was developed at the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR). This processor was extended for differential interferometric use. Two examples for differential interferometry (D-InSAR) illustrate the capability of this new technique. Examples for the generation of a DEM and for the monitoring of displacements of the Earth's surface are presented in order to give a detailed description of our interferometric processor.