What's New in SARscape 5.1

The newest release of SARscape – version 5.1 – makes it easier to extract accurate and advanced information from SAR data. The following topics are the points of major interest:

• A Graphical User Interface (GUI) consistent with the rest of ENVI 5.1
• Workflows for common tasks
• International language catalogue capable
• New processing chain for Stereo SAR / Radargrammetric DEM generation
• GPU-accelerated interferometric stcaking processing and geocoding
• Preliminary support of Sentinel-1, ALOS Palsar 2, and Kompsat-5 data
• Integration in ENVI 5.1 toolbox

General

• A Graphical User Interface (GUI) consistent with the rest of ENVI 5.1 provides the same simple and well-structured look and feel to access all SARscape modules. The new GUI provides access to modules in both standard and expert mode. Direct links to the DEM extraction and GCP creation workflows are also now available.
• The new interface supports the internationalization of SARscape via language catalogues, allowing it to easily derive versions in different languages.
• Workflows have been introduced guiding users through standard processing sequences for common results and standard products. The workflows have intelligent logic and defaults addressing processing and making the naming conventions easy.
• A preview window is available throughout processing speeding parameter optimization and validation. Next/previous step execution is also possible.
• A new menu structure has been introduced with a logical distribution of the different functions.
• Support for KompSAT-5 data in HDF5 format has been introduced.
• Preliminary support for Sentinel-1 data is provided for SLC and ground range products acquired in stripmap mode, and for ground range products acquired in IWS – TOPSAR mode.
• Preliminary support for ALOS PALSAR 2 data is provided both for SLC and ground range levels.

Tools

• Updated Raster and Vector Time Series analysis tools allow extended editing of plots and provide direct access to the Time Series statistic attributes.

Basic Module

• GPU-accelerated geocoding has been introduced, based on a new algorithm. This can exploit the computational efficiency of modern platforms.
• The following workflows have been introduced:
  • Amplitude Time Series Analysis
  • Coherence False Colour Composite (ILU) image creation
  • Coherent Change Detection (CCD

Interferometry Module

• A new set of functions has been developed for Stereo SAR / Radargrammetric DEM generation starting from pairs of very high resolution slant range or ground range products acquired with significantly different acquisition angles. These DEMs can complement the ones obtained from InSAR processing. The DEM fusion routines are well suited to merge the products obtained with the different approaches. The chain has been successfully tested and validated with COSMO-Skymed, Radarsat-2, and TerraSAR-X pairs.
• GPU-accelerated synthetic interferogram generation and flattening is now available, based on a new, more accurate algorithm and exploiting the computational efficiency of modern platforms, when available.
• The following workflows have been introduced:
  • Interferometric DEM generation
  • Interferometric DEM generation with TerraSAR-X + TanDEM-X bistatic data
  • Stereo / radargrammetric DEM generation
  • Displacement map generation
  • Multiple Aperture Interferometry
  • Amplitude / speckle tracking displacement map generation
  • Coherence False Colour Composite (ILU) image creation
  • Coherent Change Detection (CCD)

Interferometric Stacking Module

• A GPU-accelerated PS kernel has been developed, exploiting the computational efficiency of modern platforms, providing a significant increase to the computational efficiency of the module.
• The structure of the Interferometric Stacking Module has been reorganized, following a stepwise sequence like the SBAS module.
• The possibility of exploiting displacement maps estimated from the geophysical modelling module has been introduced in the SBAS module, helping the processing of Time Series spanning across significant displacement events like earthquakes.
• New functions have been developed to interact with JPL’s OSCAR system, providing external, independent sources to help mitigate artefacts depending on atmospheric heterogeneities.