Microwave Remote Sensing: SAR Principles, Data Processing and Applications

Catalog description

The course covers principles of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), SAR satellites and data sources, SAR image processing, interpretation and applications. Popular data processing techniques, including SAR intensity processing, InSAR and DInSAR techniques, polarimetry tools/classification methods, Persistent Scatterer Interferometry are discussed through detailed step-by-step lab work on the processing chain including measuring earthquake deformation, land subsidence, landslides, building sinking, and tree height/health estimation, DEM generation, and various environmental applications. Students will have experience on ordering, processing and interpreting SAR data, and an opportunity to discuss advantages and limitations of SAR remote sensing for their specific research, and to explore RADAR w/ LiDAR for its common applications in vegetation assessment and terrain characterization.