Derivation and validation of high precision topography models in the Waddensea with airborne SAR-interferometry

This paper reports the experience gained by the generation from very high accurate digital terrain models using the interferometric SAR technique. The achieved goal is a height error with a standard deviation of 5 cm by a grid spacing of 2.5 m. The authors have validated the generated DEM with several profiles obtained by theodolite measurements, which have an accuracy better than 1 cm. The sensor used was the AeS-1. The SAR sensor, the processing technique, the results and their validation are presented.