Signature analysis of the Gateway Arch monument in St. Louis using TerraSAR-X staring spotlight mode data

摘要

The analysis of radar image data is a challenge due to sensor specific imaging effects. Especially man-made objectsrnin urban areas exhibit a very distinctive backscattering behavior due to the complexity of its shape. To illustraternthe very complex scattering mechanisms that can hinder radar image interpretation, signatures of the GatewayrnArch in St. Louis are analyzed in this paper. The Arch features an extraordinary shape causing radar signaturesrnthat are particularly hard to understand. In this paper simulated SAR signatures are used, to improve imagerninterpretation and understanding of the underlying scattering mechanisms. For that purpose, current high resolutionrnimage data of the TerraSAR-X satellite are used.