DEM Extraction from Radarsat-2 Data in SARscape

To extract a Digital Elevation Model from Radarsat-2 datasets in SARscape 5.1, one would use the general steps outlined below. Note that some of these steps include multiple sub-steps that are separated so that multiple tools would be needed in earlier versions of SARscape.

1. Import your two Radarsat-2 datasets into SARscape. For interferometric processing, these datasets should be Single Look Complex data products. There is an option to specify a precise orbit file for each input Radarsat-2 dataset, which you would retrieve from MDA. If you provide this file, then the import step will include updating the orbital information stored in the Radarsat-2 data. It is highly recommended that you retrieve and apply the precise orbit files for your Radarsat-2 data, before attempting interferometric processing. If your Radarsat-2 datasets are Single Look Complex data products, then the output from the import of the Radarsat-2 datasets will be two *_slc files, with associated *.sml and *.hdr files. The *.sml file contains information needed by SARscape for subsequent processing. The *.hdr file is an ENVI header file, which ENVI needs in order to display the data.

2. If you do not have a preliminary DEM for your study area, extract an SRTM DEM for that area in SARscape, using the tool found under SARscape > General Tools > Digital Elevation Model Extraction > SRTM-3 Version 4 (or one of the other DEM sources listed there). 

3. Start the SARscape > InSAR DEM Workflow, using the two Radarsat-2 *_slc datasets you imported into SARscape in step 1 as the master and slave. The wizard will then guide you through the steps for interferometric DEM extraction. 

 

1-13-2014; Reviewed by PS, KK