The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part Bl. Beijing 2008
information and other ancillary information. Depending on the
Value Added Product type, different auxiliary raster products are
available.
Geocoded Incidence Angle Mask (GIM): The GIM contains
information on the local incidence angle and on the location of
radar shadowing and layover. This mask has the same coding
and file structure as the GIM available for the EEC products [1].
The mask can be used for further processing, e.g. radiometric
calibration using the incidence angle information. The GIM is
available for ORI sar , RAN sar , and all other VA products
derived from these products or EEC.
Incidence Angle Mask (IAM): The IAM is an alternative
representation of the local incidence angle information. The
values are not coded, thus the mask can be directly used for
further processing such as radiometric calibration using the
incidence angle information. The IAM is available for ORI sar ,
RAN sar , and all other VA products derived from them.
Layover and Shadow Mask (LSM): The LSM is the second
part of the alternative representation of the GIM. It contains
information on radar shadow and layover regions in the image.
Like the IAM it can directly be combined with the image data.
The LSM is available for ORI sar , RAN sar , and all other VA
products derived from them.
Local Resolution Mask (RES): The RES identifies the actual
ground resolution of the SAR system for each pixel resulting
from the local topography and incidence angle. The RES is
available for the ORI sar and products derived from it.
Source mask (SOU): The source mask gives a numeric value
that allows the identification of the source input image for each
output pixel. The Source Mask is optionally available for the
MC SAR , ADM sar and the OI SAR .
Enumeration files: Enumeration files consists of the Along
Track Enumeration file (ALT) and Across Track Enumeration
file (ACT). Both files provide the original location in SAR
(range-azimuth) geometry for each output pixel. These files are
useful for conversions from slant range to geocoded geometries
(and vice-versa), e.g. for geocoding additional products co
registered with the input image. The enumeration files are only
available for ORI sar if it is produced with a DEM provided by
the customer.
The following table gives an overview on the availability of
Auxiliary Raster Products for TS-X Value Added Products.
Auxiliary files
Product
GIM
IAM
LSM
SOU
RES
ALT
ACT
ORI sar
y*
y *
RAN sar
V
V
MC SAR
y *
y*
y *
y*
OI SAR
y*
y *
y*
y*
y*
ADM sar
y *
y*
y *
S
y *
* optional, depending on input products type (see description)
3. TERRASAR-X APPLICATIONS
3.1 Mapping activities
3.1.1 Land Use/Land Cover Mapping
TerraSAR-X high geometric and radiometric resolution, high
repeat cycle and polarisation availability can support, in
combination with ancillary data, the generation of update land
use/land cover information map. Land use or land cover
mapping products are needed by many authorities on rather
different spatial levels and with different thematic contents
(land use mapping, transport agency, environmental entities ...)
for the use in GIS systems.
»•«j »msoMUffflioiWom infoiarra
Fig. 10: Demonstration using LMCS / sub-set of CORINE Land
Cover dass types - Belzig, Brandenburg (Germany)
Fig. 10 shows the land cover classification according to the
CORINE nomenclature of the test site of Belzig in Germany.
The following image (Fig 11) shows a high resolution
SpotLight data over the coastal zone of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. It
can be easily seen on the TerraS AR-X image that different types
of vegetation cover the considered area. The coast line is in fact
covered of mangrove, whereas palm oil plantation is dominated
on the drier land. Studies are currently on-going in order to
determine how much TerraS AR-X can support forestry
activities.
Our preliminary studies thus showed that the very high
resolution, the multi-polarization and multi-incidence angle
capability of TerraS AR-X open very interesting perspectives for
the mapping and monitoring of urban areas.
3.1.2 Topographic Mapping
Topographic base maps contain surface forms, surface features
(vegetation cover, man-made surfaces and buildings, traffic
lines, water lines and bodies etc). They are essential instruments
for any planning activity (e.g. strategic, spatial, agricultural,
forestrial, and environmental) and are a prerequisite for the
retrieval of further value added geo-information products.
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