Analysis of the Quality of Daily DEM Generation with Geosynchronous InSAR. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Zefa; Zhang, Qingjun; Ding, Xiaoli; Chen, Wu
• Is Part Of: Engineering. Volume 6:Number 8(2020)
• Page Start: 913
• Page End: 918
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Daily digital elevation model -- Interferometric synthetic aperture radar -- Geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar -- Accuracy analysis; Engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering -- China -- Periodicals; 620.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2020.07.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2095-8099

Abstract

Abstract: Up-to-date digital elevation model (DEM) products are essential in many fields such as hazards mitigation and urban management. Airborne and low-earth-orbit (LEO) space-borne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has been proven to be a valuable tool for DEM generation. However, given the limitations of cost and satellite repeat cycles, it is difficult to generate or update DEMs very frequently (e.g., on a daily basis) for a very large area (e.g., continental scale or greater). Geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (GEOSAR) satellites fly in geostationary earth orbits, allowing them to observe the same ground area with a very short revisit time (daily or shorter). This offers great potential for the daily DEM generation that is desirable yet thus far impossible with space-borne sensors. In this work, we systematically analyze the quality of daily GEOSAR DEM. The results indicate that the accuracy of a daily GEOSAR DEM is generally much lower than what can be achieved with typical LEO synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors; therefore, it is important to develop techniques to mitigate the effects of errors in GEOSAR DEM generation.