Michael Jehle

Influence of Atmospheric Path Delay on the Absolute Geolocation Accuracy of TerraSAR-X High-Resolution Products

Two coupled investigations of TerraSAR-X (TSX) high-resolution data are described in this paper: geometric validation, and estimation of the tropospheric path delay using measurements of corner reflectors (CRs) placed at different altitudes but nearly identical ranges. The CRs were placed within Alpine and valley sites in Switzerland, where terrain diversity provides ideal territory for geometric validation studies. Geometric validation was conducted using slant-range complex products from the spotlight and stripmap (SM) modes in ascending and descending configurations. Based on the delivered product annotations, the CR image positions were predicted, and these predictions were compared to their measured image positions. To isolate path delays caused by the atmosphere, six TSX SM scenes ( ~ 35 x 50 km) were examined containing four identical CRs with the same ranges and an altitude difference of ~ 3000 m. The CR arrangement made it possible to verify the annotated TSX atmospheric path delay by comparing the predicted slant range with the slant range obtained by measuring the reflector image coordinates. Range differences between the high- and low-altitude reflectors helped to quantify small variations in the path delay. Both SM and spotlight TSX products were verified to meet the specified accuracy requirements, even for scenes with extreme terrain variations, in spite of the simplicity of the atmospheric model currently integrated into the processor. Small potential improvements of the geolocation accuracy through the implementation of more comprehensive atmospheric modeling were demonstrated.

Measurement of Ionospheric Faraday Rotation in Simulated and Real Spaceborne SAR Data

The influence of the atmosphere on a frequency-modulated electromagnetic wave traversing the ionosphere is becoming increasingly important for recent and upcoming low-frequency and wide-bandwidth spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. The ionized ionosphere induces Faraday rotation (FR) at these frequencies that affects radar polarimetry and causes signal path delays resulting in a reduced range resolution. The work at hand introduces a simulation model of SAR signals passing through the atmosphere, including both frequency-dependent FR and path delays. Based on simulation results from this model [proven with real Advanced Land Observing Satellite Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data], estimation of FR in quad-polarized SAR data using the given approach is shown for raw, range-compressed, and focused radar images. Path delays and signal chirp bandwidth effects are considered. Investigations discuss the suitability of raw and compressed data versus combination of total electron content maps with the Earths magnetic field for FR estimation and deduced from a large number of analyzed PALSAR data sets.

Estimation of Atmospheric Path Delays in TerraSAR-X Data using Models vs. Measurements

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements of the Earths surface depend on electromagnetic waves that are subject to atmospheric path delays, in turn affecting geolocation accuracy The atmosphere influences radar signal propagation by modifying its velocity and direction, effects which can be modeled. We use TerraSAR-X (TSX) data to investigate improvements in the knowledge of the scene geometry. To precisely estimate atmospheric path delays, we analyse the signal return of four corner reflectors with accurately surveyed positions (based on differential GPS), placed at different altitudes yet with nearly identical slant ranges to the sensor. The comparison of multiple measurements with path delay models under these geometric conditions also makes it possible to evaluate the corrections for the atmospheric path delay made by the TerraSAR processor and to propose possible improvements.

APEX - current status, performance and validation concept

The Airborne Prism EXperiment (APEX) is an airborne pushbroom imaging spectrometer for Earth observation. Its products will become available in 2011. APEX is currently prepared for final acceptance configuration completing final hardware upgrades, refined calibration methodologies and test flights. APEX is composed of an airborne dispersive pushbroom imaging spectrometer, a Calibration Home Base (CHB) for instrument calibration and a data Processing and Archiving Facility (PAF) for operational product generation and delivery. A unique In-Flight Characterization (IFC) unit is integrated within the sensor optical head, providing pre- and post- data-acquisition characterization monitoring the instruments spectral and radiometric stability. This paper outlines the activities performed with a special focus on system calibration and validation procedures, as well as preliminary measurement results.

Measurement of Ionospheric TEC in Spaceborne SAR Data

The propagation of spaceborne radar signals operating at L-band frequency or below can be seriously affected by the ionosphere. At high states of solar activity, Faraday rotation (FR) and signal path delays disturb radar polarimetry and reduce resolution in range and azimuth. While these effects are negligible at X-band, FR and the frequency-dependent path delays can become seriously problematic starting at L-band. For quality assurance and calibration purposes, existing L-band or potential spaceborne P-band missions require the estimation of the ionospheric state before or during the data take. This paper introduces two approaches for measuring the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) from single-polarized spaceborne SAR data. The two methods are demonstrated using simulations. Both methods leverage knowledge of the frequency-dependent path delay through the ionosphere: The first estimates TEC from the phase error of the filter mismatch, while the second gauges path-delay differences between up and down chirps. FR, mean (direct current) offsets, and noise contributions are also considered in the simulations. Finally, possibilities for further methodological improvements are discussed.

COSMO-skymed, TerraSAR-X, and RADARSAT-2 geolocation accuracy after compensation for earth-system effects

A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor with high geolocation accuracy greatly simplifies the task of combining multiple data takes within a common geodetic reference system or Geographic Information System (GIS), and is a critical enabler for many applications such as near-real-time disaster mapping. In this study, the geolocation accuracy was estimated using the same methodology for products from three SAR sensors: TerraSAR-X (two identical satellites), COSMO-SkyMed (four identical satellites) and RADARSAT-2. Known errors caused by atmospheric refraction, plate tectonics and the solid-Earth tide were modeled and compensated during the analysis. Of the products analyzed, TerraSAR-X provided the highest absolute and relative geolocation accuracy.

Impacts of dichroic prism coatings on radiometry of the airborne imaging spectrometer APEX

The generation of well-calibrated radiometric measurements from imaging spectrometer data requires careful consideration of all influencing factors, as well as an instrument calibration based on a detailed sensor model. Deviations of ambient parameters (i.e., pressure, humidity, temperature) from standard laboratory conditions during airborne operations can lead to biases that should be accounted for and properly compensated by using dedicated instrument models. This study introduces a model for the airborne imaging spectrometer airborne prism experiment (APEX), describing the impact of spectral shifts as well as polarization effects on the radiometric system response due to changing ambient parameters. Key issues are related to changing properties of the dichroic coating applied to the dispersing elements within the optical path. We present a model based on discrete numerical simulations. With the improved modeling approach, we predict radiometric biases with an root mean square error (RMSE) below 1%, leading to a substantial improvement of radiometric stability and predictability of system behavior.

Feature Unweaving: Refactoring Software Requirements Specifications into Software Product Lines

The design of the variability of a software product line is crucial to its success and evolution. Meaningful variable features need to be elicited, analyzed, documented and validated when an existing software or reference system evolves into a software product line. These variable features are the main discriminators between individual products and they need to reflect the needs of a large variety of stakeholders adequately. In this paper we present a novel approach, called feature unweaving, that supports the identification and extraction of variable features from a given graphical software requirements model. We have extended our aspect-oriented software product line modeling tool [9] [10] such that it supports feature unweaving: it takes a set of model elements that a domain requirements engineer considers to constitute a variable feature and automatically refactors the model into a semantically equivalent one in which the model elements belonging to this feature are grouped into an aspect. This allows the identification and modeling of variable features in an incremental style. It also substantially reduces both the intellectual and clerical effort required for constructing the variable parts of a software product line requirements model.

Prediction and detection of Faraday rotation in ALOS PALSAR data

Faraday rotation can degrade the quality of low- frequency spaceborne SAR data, making an estimation and correction of these effects a prerequisite for data quality continuity. In this paper, methods for predicting and estimating Faraday rotation are presented and tested on ALOS/PALSAR data. A first example for unambiguous detection of Faraday rotation in SAR is shown. In addition, the improvement after correcting for FR is proven using a real data example.

Detection and Correction of Radiance Variations During Spectral Calibration in APEX

The airborne prism experiment (APEX) is an imaging spectrometer developed by a joint Swiss-Belgian consortium composed of institutes (University of Zurich, Flemish Institute for Technological Research) and industries (RUAG, OIP, Netcetera), supported by the European Space Agencys PRODEX programme. APEX is designed to support the development of future space-borne Earth observation systems by simulating, calibrating or validating existing or planned optical satellite missions. Therefore, periodic extensive calibration of APEX is one major objective within the project. APEX calibration under laboratory conditions is done at its dedicated calibration and characterization facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. While environmental influences under laboratory conditions are reduced to a minimum, the effects of atmospheric absorption and the properties of the underlying calibration infrastructure may still influence the measurements and subsequently the accuracy of the sensor spectral response estimations. It is demonstrated that even a lightpath of ~2 m through the atmosphere or the monochromator grating can have significant impact on the spectral response estimation of the sensor. A normalization approach described in this letter is able to compensate for these effects. The correction algorithm is exemplarily demonstrated on actual measurements for the short wavelength-IR range channel.