Georeferencing and coherent change detection of high-resolution COSMO-SkyMed images

The quality and usefulness of feature extraction and change detection will be governed by the geoposition accuracy of the SAR image. We show results from SAR image pixel geolocation accuracy using deployed radar corner reflectors as reference targets. The best accuracy (latitude, longitude) is below one meter. We have also developed algorithms that are using stereo acquisitions to obtain decimeter geolocation accuracies in XYZ of the SAR image pixels. This can be used to generate ground control points that can be applied to interferometric SAR data processing. We outline how different SAR mode combinations can be used in the interferometric coherence change detection technique in an application driven approach in order to extract the optimal information from a certain area of interest within a few weeks.