FRINGE '99 Workshop Report Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM): DLR's Interferometric SAR Processor for the Generation of a Global Digital Elevation Model

Number: 11 User Lastname: Adam User Firstname: Nico User e-mail: [email protected] Affiliation: German Aerospace CenterGerman Remote Sensing Data Center User Address: German Aerospace CenterGerman Remote Sensing Data CenterOberpfaffenhofen User Telephone: +49 8153 281326 User Fax: +49 8153 281446 Theme: Topographic Mapping and Digital Elevation Models Special Requirements: User Type: Presenter (verbal) Abstract: Nico Adam, Michael Eineder, Helko Breit and Steffen Suchandt German Aerospace Center (DLR)German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD)82234 Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyTel.: +49 8153 281326, Fax: +49 8153 28 1446 email: [email protected] The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) will be launched in January 2000. Its aim is the global topographic mapping of the Earth's surface. The data willbe acquired by the first space-born single-pass Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometer. Within eleven days this mission will map all continents between +/-60 degree latitude. The resulting data set is unique in two respects. Firstly, the height accuracy of about 6 m of the obtained Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and secondly the hugeamount of data which have to be processed are remarkable. The global DEM generation requires a highly optimized, with respect to height accuracy and throughput, as well as an operationally working interferometric processing system. DLR's GENEric System for Interferometric SAR (GENESIS) was adapted to meet the mission requirements. This paper presents the architecture and algorithms of the implemented InSAR Processor. The simulation of SRTM data is described and the expected SRTM-DEM characteristics are compared with ERS-1/2 data. Link to Paper: Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM): DLR's Interferometric SAR Processor for the Generation of a Global Digital Elevation Model I2 CONFERENCE DMS Report http://gauss.esrin.esa.int:1111/fringe.html (1 of 100) [27/8/2000 2:18:35 pm] Operational Processing Large Areas of Interferometric SAR Data