Sentinel-1 Interferometric Concepts?

I’m doing DEM generation process using sentinel-1 images in SNAP. There are a lot of concepts in this way that I don’t familiar with them like phase and coherency images and etc. So how can I get some useful information about these topics?

sincerely,

A new tutorial on displacement mapping with S1 data was published one week ago. The only difference is that you don’t apply topographic phase removal: http://step.esa.int/docs/tutorials/S1TBX%20TOPSAR%20Interferometry%20with%20Sentinel-1%20Tutorial_v2.pdf

A separate tutorial on DEM generation with S1 is planned. But please be aware that you need several conditions for a good DEM

  • the perpendicular baseline is ideally above 150 meters
  • two images at short intervals
  • no rain during the acquisitions, at best images from the dry season
  • no vegetation cover

Sentinel-1 is mainly designed for differential interferometry and not for DEM generation. Most of the approaches fail because the requirements above are not given and the phase is decorrelated.

Please also see these comments:

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Dear Braun
Thanks for your support.
How can I produce DSM (Digital Surface Model) using sentinel-1 imagery? Could you guide me please? what’s the differences there are between DEM and DSM process in SNAP?

Sincerely,

again, please check this tutorial - it is the best start for your your case.
Any interferometric analysis refers to the surface of objects, because c band does not penetrate very much. But it is not very reliable at this spatial resolution.

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A new tutorial on DEM generation with Sentinel-1 data (with emphasis on potential error sources) is now available: http://step.esa.int/docs/tutorials/S1TBX%20DEM%20generation%20with%20Sentinel-1%20IW%20Tutorial.pdf

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Thanks.

Now I’m trying this Instruction. I will share results with you today.

Sincerely,

Dear Braun

The new tutorial that you mentioned works as best as possible. I’ve created a new sentinel-1 DEM and comapred with SRTM 1arc-sec. Comparison has shown in below, have a look please! It is very similar to SRTM DEM quantitatively and qualitatively.

Of course I followed all the conditions stated in the new tutorial that you introduced.

Thanks to your guides in my project DEM generation process works well, however DSM generation cause qualitative error. When I used phase to height command in SNAP, some areas shows with distorted values like negative elevations. Do you have any suggestion for DSM process? I’ve analysed existing instructions in articles but it doesn’t work properly.

I’m glad you find it useful.
About DEM vs DSM: InSAR does not really make a difference here. It depends on the wavelength of the sensor which target (or which part of a surface) reflects the most. You cannot get different surface levels from traditional InSAR.

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There are many considerations (like baseline and etc.) for data selection in DEM generation process to make a suitable coherence together. So I’m gonna to know that should I follow this instructions for input data in displacement process (like land subsidence) or not?

Sincerely,

the perpendicular baseline can be smaller for displacement mapping, bceause the aspect of topography is (tried to be) neglected.

But the aspects of temporal decorrelation and phase noise from atmospheric water vapor are still valid here.

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Dear @ABraun

I’ve calculated displacement using sentinel-1 data in a study area where no earthquake, landslides or etc. happened recently. However the exported map indicates a few millimeters uplifting and down lifting. Does this amount of changes usually happen naturally or not, this is invalid result? Could you guide me please?

As input data, I’ve selected tandem acquisition images (36 days interval) and these changes shows the amount of displacement that occurred during this time?

Sincerely,

can you please also show the interferogram (before unwrapping)?

Have a look, please!

have you performed topographic phase removal during the interferogram generation process?

Yes. In interferogram formation step I’ve selected subtract topographic phase, and I’ve done this process according to newest manual that is published by ESA.

to me it looks like atmospheric interferences are partially disturbing the interferogram.

You mean this amount of up and down lifting in 36 days interval in unusual and caused by atmospheric effects, yes?

yes, these patterns do not like they are caused by actual displacement.