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SHOULD STEREO SLAR IMAGERY BE PREFERRED TO 
SINGLE STRIP IMAGERY FOR THEMATIC MAPPING? 
B.N. Koopmans* 
ABSTRACT 
To dates images of the "side-looking radar" have been interpreted mainly 
in a monoscopie way. The radar shadows on the imagery give the interpreter 
a relief impression 3 whioh makes recognition of surface characteristics 
possible. With the present geometric fidelity of consecutive radar-strips 
and constant scan-direction s stereo viewing is possible to obtain a three 
dimensional picture. The principles of height and slope measurements 
are treated for single strip imagery and stereo images. 
Drainage interpretation of stereo radar imagery and single strip imagery 
are compared for different terrain types. Stereo viewing of overlapping 
radar strips offers considerable advantages over monoscopie viewing for 
interpretation purposes. Details 3 from far range and near range> are ob 
served simultaneously. Moreover 3 the three dimensional picture allows 
relative altitude correlations (often not possible in single strip 
imagery) and increases the interpretability of the radar strips. 
RÉSUMÉ 
Jusqu 'à présent 3 les images obtenues à l ’aide de radars latéraux aéro 
portés ont surtout été utilisées de manière monoscopique. Les ombres 
radar donnent bien l'impression de relief et permettent à. l’interprétateur 
de reconnaitre les caractéristiques des surfaces. Mais il est maintenant 
possible d’obtenir une véritable image tridimensionnelle par vision stéréos 
copiques grâce à la fidélité géométrique des bandes consécutives d’images 
radar et grâce à l’invariabilité de la direction du balayage. 
*) Senior Lecturer in the Dept, of Geology