Site Monitoring applications with high-resolution TerraSAR-X data

Abstract

Both GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) and IMINT (Image Intelligence) increasingly make use of highresolution SAR data. The new TerraSAR-X Staring SpotLight mode provides the highest spatial resolution presently available on a commercial spaceborne SAR system. In this paper we demonstrate various applications relevant in the context of monitoring sites with the goal to derive intelligence information. In particular, we demonstrate the strengths of TerraSAR-X data applied in the frame of visual data analysis, the interferometric derivation of object heights, stock pile monitoring, and finally, coherence change detection.