SAR imagery in urban area

摘要

This paper deals with the major factors influencing the detection of urban fabrics in ERS-SAR images. Data, in SLC and PRI format, were acquired over the city of Nantes (West of France). The analysis of the data was performed in conjunction with aerial photographs, maps, meteorological data, as well as a field survey. Teh ways in which urban fabrics and their environment, data processing techniques, and weather conditions affect the radar signal are examined and discussed. It is found that many effects originate from the geometry of urban features, as well as their orientation relative to the spacecraft orbit. Thsi investigation adds evidence to the fact that specular scattering prevails over hte diffuse scattering in an urban area. Practical conclusions concerning the capabilities and the limitations of ERS-SAR imagery are drawn.