Three-dimensional Mapping with Airborne Ifsar Based Star Technology Intermap's Experiences

Airborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR or INSAR) is maturing as a cost-effective three-dimensional mapping technology. It is attracting increased attention in the geospatial community because of its unique operational advantages. Various mapping products are being generated by Intermap’s STAR technology which is based on high-resolution airborne IFSAR. More significantly, these STAR derived products are being used for applications traditionally supported by other mapping technologies and this list of applications is growing. This trend is due to the ever-increasing customer confidence towards the STAR derived data. Involved with IFSAR technology since 1993, Intermap is diligently working to exploit the potential of this technology and to develop new, market specific applications. To reach a more widespread acceptance and a deeper and wider application base, Intermap’s STAR technology and its mapping products are continuously presented to the general geospatial public from the early adopters through the general provider. Experiences obtained from those applications are highly beneficial to potential users. The objective of this paper is to give the reader a general picture of airborne IFSAR mapping in order for them to better understand the strengths and limitations of the technology and the products.