Flood detection using SAR images: A review

Abstract

Satellites and their radar technology are pivotal in the monitoring of floods. Radar data shows stagnant water areas as dark, providing a sharp contrast with non-water regions, making it easier to identify and detect water pixels. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, with its excellent ability to distinguish water from other land surfaces, emerges as a preferable alternative for flood detection. What makes SAR data particularly valuable is that it remains independent of weather conditions. High-resolution SAR images are effective in assessing flood impact both before and after the event, giving rise to various flood mapping and detection methods. This paper provides a thorough assessment and comparison of established flood mapping approaches, along with discussions on hybrid methods that combine multiple existing approaches for case-specific improvements