GIS-SUPPORTED PRECISE SPATIO-TEMPORAL MODELLING FROM AIRBORNE 
SAR IMAGERY 
L. Pang?^, J. X. Zhang", M. B. Zhang, W. J. Gao", P. Wang? 
* Institute of geoscience, Shandong University of Science and Technology, 271019, Taian, Shandong province, China- 
Panglei.mail(@163.com; pingwsd(@263.net 
Institute of photogrammetry and remote sensing, Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping, 100039, Beijing, China - 
stecsmipublic.bta.net.cn; gaowuj@ 163.com 
© Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resource Research. 'CAS, 100101, Beijing, China- 
zhangmb@lreis.ac.cn 
KEY WORDS: SAR, modelling, Temporal, GIS, landscape, Virtual Reality 
ABSTRACT: 
Precise spatio-temporal model can make it easy to obtain precise temporal and spatial information just like the true world, and it is 
of much importance to the planning and designing of Civil Engineering, the directing of disaster prevention and the plotting of 
military action. And airborne SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) has an advantage of full-time available and high resolution. So, in 
this paper the method and the potential of utilizing airborne SAR imagery to retrieve the precise temporal and spatial information 
will be researched. First, this paper researches the primary factors to reconstruct the precise spatio-temporal model from high 
resolution airborne SAR imagery, from which the information and texture structure of those factors can be exacted, including Digital 
Elevation Model (DEM), buildings and vegetation. Then, integrating Temporal GIS (TGIS) into the spatial model, this paper 
describes the mathematic model of retrieving temporal and spatial landscape in the nature, and discussed in detail the relationships 
between the factors which constructing the mathematic model. At the same time! it puts forward to a kind of method to reconstruct 
the precise 4.5 dimension model with temporal and spatial factors by Virtual Reality (VR) technique. Within this paper, the 
corresponding accuracy criterion and the potential of forecasting the future model with the relative multi-temporal airborne SAR 
imagery are discussed. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
In this paper, we aim to discuss the method of reconstructing 
The modelling and monitoring of our environment and society the precise space and time information model using the high- 
is based on how things change, and these phenomena are highly resolution airborne SAR images, and integrated the TGIS 
dynamic in space and time. Precise spatio-temporal model is of conception with spatial model derived from multi-temporal 
much importance to the planning and designing of Civil SAR images, to describe the conception of spatio-temporal 
Engineering, the directing of disaster prevention and the model cell, the space and time representation, and the model 
plotting of military action, because it can make it easy to obtain cell basic relations and accuracy analysis issues. 
temporal and spatial information just like the true world. 
There have been many works to research the space and time 2. PRICISE SPATIO-TEMPRAL MODEL 
modelling (Wang, 2000; Appleton, 2003; El-Geresy, 2002; RECONSTRUCTION FACTORS 
Becker, 1996; Liou, 1999 ). Yet, time as a dimension, is only 
marginally supported by current GIS technology. On the GIS- For a precise spatio-temporal model, the spatial representation 
supported spatio-temporal modelling, there has been a of the real natural landscapes is a predominant role to visualize 
conclusion is that the mismatch between static, two- the 2D remote sensing and GIS data. As it is required, the 
dimensional GIS and causative, site-specific surface process precise spatio-temporal model reconstructed from 2D data 
modelling is so great that GIS-based spatial modelling may be should be a precise simulation digitally of the complex of 
reality, and have high enough realism degree. Some research 
premature, at least for some domains. 
has pointed that the most important factor, which positively 
As an active sensor system, Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar contributing to the degree of realism, is the terrain with the 
has several advantages comparing to optical sensors. Firstly, it draped high-resolution aerial orthoimages, and the second 
has advantages of terrain surveying and high resolution, which important one is the building (Appleton, 2003). 
can provide us with precise terrain and ground objects survey 
potentiality. Morcover, airborne SAR system not only can [t can be argued, that the spatial model of a true landscape has 
operate independent of time of day and weather conditions, but two important factors: terrain and buildings. However, there are 
can provide us with remote sensing data at the time frequency three aspects embodied in the precise spatio-temporal model, 
of day, even hour, which make us can acquire enough temporal that is, space, time, and attributes. On the other hand, for many 
remote sensing data. At the same time, with the rapid practical planning and designing, the basis elements, which are 
development of high-resolution remote sensing sensor, the required to represent in 3D spatial digital format, are comprised 
dynamic monitoring remote sensing database in China, has of terrain, buildings and vegetation. Hence, we can choose the 
become more mature than ever before. precise spatio-temporal model reconstruction factors as follows: 
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