Evaluation of radar height mapping techniques

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems in combination with interferometric techniques offer terrain height mapping with an accuracy comparable to that of standard photogrammetry. Recently, airborne laser scanner height mapping has become operational and decimetre height accuracies are now attainable. In this project the EMISAR system was flown over a few Danish sites where laser-based reference digital elevation models (DEMs) are available. Using a new technique that has recently been developed at the institute, the SAR data are processed and calibrated into DEMs, which in turn are compared with the reference DEMs in order to evaluate the accuracy.