Multielement information extraction from city area SAR images using the permanent scatterers technique

Permanent scatterers (PS) technique can separate and identify the different contributions to the interferometric phase of each PS from long temporal series of interferometric SAR images. Submeter DEM accuracy, millimetric terrain motion detection and atmospheric phase screen (APS) estimation can be achieved. Multielement information extraction ability of PS technique has been discovered and validated by more and more scholars. In this paper, data process methods of PS technique are researched and a weighted summarization algorithm for PS candidates selection is proposed. Twenty-one ENVISAT ASAR images of Los Angeles city during about five years are processed. High accuracy terrain deformation velocity, DEM correction and APS are estimated. The results are consistent with actual city changes and yet again verified significant value of PS technique for city areas.