scholarly journals Sub-Canopy Topography Estimation from TanDEM-X DEM by Fusing ALOS-2 PARSAR-2 InSAR Coherence and GEDI Data

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 7304
Author(s):  
Pengyuan Tan ◽  
Jianjun Zhu ◽  
Haiqiang Fu ◽  
Changcheng Wang ◽  
Zhiwei Liu ◽  
...  

This paper develops a framework for extracting sub-canopy topography from the TanDEM-X digital elevation model (DEM) by fusing ALOS-2 PARSAR-2 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) coherence and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) data. The main idea of this method is to estimate the forest height signals caused by the limited penetration of the X-band into the canopy from the TanDEM-X DEM. To achieve this goal, a spaceborne repeat-pass InSAR coherent scattering model is first used to estimate the forest height by the ALOS-2 PARSAR-2 InSAR coherence (APIC), taking the GEDI canopy height as the reference. Then, a linear regression model of the TanDEM-X DEM Vegetation Bias (TDVB) depending on the forest height and the fraction of vegetation cover (FVC) is established and used to estimate the sub-canopy topography. The proposed method was validated by the data of the Amazon rainforest and a boreal forest in Canada. The results showed that the proposed method extracted the sub-canopy topography at the study sites in the tropical forest and boreal forest with the root mean square error of 4.0 m and 6.33 m, respectively, and improved the TanDEM-X DEM accuracy by 75.7% and 39.7%, respectively.

Author(s):  
M. Hubacek ◽  
V. Kovarik ◽  
V. Kratochvil

Digital elevation models are today a common part of geographic information systems and derived applications. The way of their creation is varied. It depends on the extent of area, required accuracy, delivery time, financial resources and technologies available. The first model covering the whole territory of the Czech Republic was created already in the early 1980's. Currently, the 5th DEM generation is being finished. Data collection for this model was realized using the airborne laser scanning which allowed creating the DEM of a new generation having the precision up to a decimetre. Model of such a precision expands the possibilities of employing the DEM and it also offers new opportunities for the use of elevation data especially in a domain of modelling the phenomena dependent on highly accurate data. The examples are precise modelling of hydrological phenomena, studying micro-relief objects, modelling the vehicle movement, detecting and describing historical changes of a landscape, designing constructions etc. <br><br> Due to a nature of the technology used for collecting data and generating DEM, it is assumed that the resulting model achieves lower accuracy in areas covered by vegetation and in built-up areas. Therefore the verification of model accuracy was carried out in five selected areas in Moravia. The network of check points was established using a total station in each area. To determine the reference heights of check points, the known geodetic points whose heights were defined using levelling were used. Up to several thousands of points were surveyed in each area. Individual points were selected according to a different configuration of relief, different surface types, and different vegetation coverage. The sets of deviations were obtained by comparing the DEM 5G heights with reference heights which was followed by verification of tested elevation model. Results of the analysis showed that the model reaches generally higher precision than the declared one in majority of areas. This applies in particular to areas covered by vegetation. By contrast, the larger deviations occurred in relation to the slope of the terrain, in particular in the micro-relief objects. The results are presented in this article.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Liu ◽  
Cui Zhou ◽  
Haiqiang Fu ◽  
Jianjun Zhu ◽  
Tingying Zuo

Repeat-pass interferometric synthetic aperture radar is a well-established technology for generating digital elevation models (DEMs). However, the interferogram usually has ionospheric and atmospheric effects, which reduces the DEM accuracy. In this paper, by introducing dual-polarization interferograms, a new approach is proposed to mitigate the ionospheric and atmospheric errors of the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. The proposed method consists of two parts. First, the range split-spectrum method is applied to compensate for the ionospheric artifacts. Then, a multiresolution correlation analysis between dual-polarization InSAR interferograms is employed to remove the identical atmospheric phases, since the atmospheric delay is independent of SAR polarizations. The corrected interferogram can be used for DEM extraction. Validation experiments, using the ALOS-1 PALSAR interferometric pairs covering the study areas in Hawaii and Lebanon of the U.S.A., show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the ionospheric artifacts and atmospheric effects, and improve the accuracy of the InSAR-derived DEMs by 64.9% and 31.7% for the study sites in Hawaii and Lebanon of the U.S.A., respectively, compared with traditional correction methods. In addition, the assessment of the resulting DEMs also includes comparisons with the high-precision Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) altimetry data. The results show that the selection of reference data will not affect the validation results.


Author(s):  
R. D. Gupta ◽  
M. K. Singh ◽  
S. Snehmani ◽  
A. Ganju

The present research study assesses the accuracy of the SRTM X band DEM with respect to high accuracy photogrammetric Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for parts of the Himalaya. The high resolution DEM was generated for Manali and nearby areas using digital aerial photogrammetric survey data of 40 cm Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) captured through airborne ADS80 pushbroom camera for the first time in Indian Himalayan context. This high resolution DEM was evaluated with Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) points for accuracy assessment. The ADS80-DEM gave root mean square error (RMSE) of ~<1m and linear error of 1.60 m at 90 % confidence (LE 90) when compared with the DGPS points. The overall RMSE in vertical accuracy was 73.36 m while LE 90 was 75.20 m with regard to ADS80 DEM. It is observed that the accuracy achieved for part of Himalayan region is far less as compared to the values officially claimed. Thus, SRTM X band DEM should be used with due care in mountainous regions of Himalaya.


Author(s):  
L. Feng ◽  
J.-P. Muller

From the latest TanDEM-X mission (bistatic X-Band interferometric SAR), globally consistent Digital Elevation Model (DEM) will be available from 2017, but their accuracy has not yet been fully characterised. This paper presents the methods and implementation of statistical procedures for the validation of the vertical accuracy of TanDEM-X iDEMs at grid-spacing of approximately 12.5&thinsp;m, 30&thinsp;m and 90&thinsp;m based on processed ICESat data over the UK in order to assess their potential extrapolation across the globe. The accuracy of the TanDEM-X iDEM in UK was obtained as follows: against ICESat GLA14 elevation data, TanDEM-X iDEM has &minus;0.028±3.654&thinsp;m over England and Wales and 0.316&thinsp;±&thinsp;5.286&thinsp;m over Scotland for 12&thinsp;m, &minus;0.073&thinsp;±&thinsp;6.575&thinsp;m for 30&thinsp;m, and 0.0225&thinsp;±&thinsp;9.251&thinsp;m at 90&thinsp;m. Moreover, 90&thinsp;% of all results at the three resolutions of TanDEM-X iDEM data (with a linear error at 90&thinsp;% confidence level) are below 16.2&thinsp;m. These validation results also indicate that derivative topographic parameters (slope, aspect and relief) have a strong effect on the vertical accuracy of the TanDEM-X iDEMs. In high-relief and large slope terrain, large errors and data voids are frequent, and their location is strongly influenced by topography, whilst in the low- to medium-relief and low slope sites, errors are smaller. ICESat derived elevations are heavily influenced by surface slope within the 70&thinsp;m footprint as well as there being slope dependent errors in the TanDEM-X iDEMs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4130
Author(s):  
C. Elizabeth Duffy ◽  
Andreas Braun ◽  
Volker Hochschild

In Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, though at present flooding is merely a recurring nuisance, there is increasing concern that a combination of impending climate change and rapid urbanization will significantly exacerbate the situation. Given the significant measures taken in HCMC to reduce groundwater extraction and sea-level rise (SLR) inundation since the most recent subsidence studies, we aim to update and contribute to the subsidence information of HCMC with continuous temporal coverage from 2017 to 2019. In this study, we use Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) with Copernicus Sentinel-1 data and open source tools to determine current subsidence rates within the urban center of HCMC. Additionally, the scalability of this method and use of freely accessible data allows for continuous updating and monitoring of this high-vulnerability region. The observed average subsidence rates were 3.3 mm per year with a maximum local subsidence of 5.3 cm per year. These results largely align with findings of previous studies and reflect similar spatial distributed subsidence patterns. Inundation risk awareness is enhanced by not only continued improved subsidence analysis, but also incorporating latest advancements in Digital Elevation Model (DEM) accuracy. This study compares local differences between traditionally used AW3D30 DEM with the CoastalDEM. Our findings indicate that although we identify lower than previously accepted elevations in the urban core, that stabilization of subsidence is observed in this same region.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Wessel ◽  
Martin Huber ◽  
Christian Wohlfart ◽  
Adina Bertram ◽  
Nicole Osterkamp ◽  
...  

Abstract. We present the generation and validation of an updated version of the TanDEM-X Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Antarctica: the TanDEM-X PolarDEM 90 m of Antarctica. Improvements compared to the global TanDEM-X DEM version include filling of gaps with newer acquisitions, interpolating of smaller voids, smoothing of noisy areas and replacing frozen or open sea areas with geoid undulations. For the latter, a new semi-automatic editing approach allowed the delineation of the coastline from DEM and amplitude data. Finally, the DEM was transformed into the cartographic Antarctic Polar Stereographic projection with a homogeneous metric spacing in northing and easting of 90 meters. As X-Band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) penetrates the snow and ice pack by several meters a new concept for absolute height adjustment was set up that relies on areas with stable penetration conditions and on ICESat (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite) elevations. After DEM generation and editing, a sophisticated height error characterization of the whole Antarctic continent with ICESat and IceBridge data was carried out and a validation over blue ice achieved a mean vertical height error of just −0.3 m ± 2.5 m standard deviation. The filled and edited Antarctic TanDEM-X PolarDEM 90 m is outstanding due to its accuracy, homogeneity and coverage completeness. It is freely available for scientific purposes and provides a high-resolution dataset as basis for polar research, such as ice velocity, mass balance estimation or ortho-rectification.


Author(s):  
O. M. Dayamit ◽  
M. F. Pedro ◽  
R. R. Ernesto ◽  
B. L. Fernando

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data as a representation of surface topography is highly demanded for use in spatial analysis and modelling. Aimed to that issue many methods of acquisition data and process it are developed, from traditional surveying until modern technology like LIDAR. On the other hands, in a past four year the development of Unamend Aerial System (UAS) aimed to Geomatic bring us the possibility to acquire data about surface by non-metric digital camera on board in a short time with good quality for some analysis. Data collectors have attracted tremendous attention on UAS due to possibility of the determination of volume changes over time, monitoring of the breakwaters, hydrological modelling including flood simulation, drainage networks, among others whose support in DEM for proper analysis. The DEM quality is considered as a combination of DEM accuracy and DEM suitability so; this paper is aimed to analyse the quality of the DEM from non-metric digital camera on UAS compared with a DEM from LIDAR corresponding to same geographic space covering 4 km2 in Artemisa province, Cuba. This area is in a frame of urban planning whose need to know the topographic characteristics in order to analyse hydrology behaviour and decide the best place for make roads, building and so on. Base on LIDAR technology is still more accurate method, it offer us a pattern for test DEM from non-metric digital camera on UAS, whose are much more flexible and bring a solution for many applications whose needs DEM of detail.


Author(s):  
M. Hubacek ◽  
V. Kovarik ◽  
V. Kratochvil

Digital elevation models are today a common part of geographic information systems and derived applications. The way of their creation is varied. It depends on the extent of area, required accuracy, delivery time, financial resources and technologies available. The first model covering the whole territory of the Czech Republic was created already in the early 1980's. Currently, the 5th DEM generation is being finished. Data collection for this model was realized using the airborne laser scanning which allowed creating the DEM of a new generation having the precision up to a decimetre. Model of such a precision expands the possibilities of employing the DEM and it also offers new opportunities for the use of elevation data especially in a domain of modelling the phenomena dependent on highly accurate data. The examples are precise modelling of hydrological phenomena, studying micro-relief objects, modelling the vehicle movement, detecting and describing historical changes of a landscape, designing constructions etc. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Due to a nature of the technology used for collecting data and generating DEM, it is assumed that the resulting model achieves lower accuracy in areas covered by vegetation and in built-up areas. Therefore the verification of model accuracy was carried out in five selected areas in Moravia. The network of check points was established using a total station in each area. To determine the reference heights of check points, the known geodetic points whose heights were defined using levelling were used. Up to several thousands of points were surveyed in each area. Individual points were selected according to a different configuration of relief, different surface types, and different vegetation coverage. The sets of deviations were obtained by comparing the DEM 5G heights with reference heights which was followed by verification of tested elevation model. Results of the analysis showed that the model reaches generally higher precision than the declared one in majority of areas. This applies in particular to areas covered by vegetation. By contrast, the larger deviations occurred in relation to the slope of the terrain, in particular in the micro-relief objects. The results are presented in this article.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 3961
Author(s):  
Carolina González ◽  
Markus Bachmann ◽  
José-Luis Bueso-Bello ◽  
Paola Rizzoli ◽  
Manfred Zink

The spaceborne mission TanDEM-X successfully acquired and processed a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) from interferometric bistatic SAR data at X band. The product has been delivered in 2016 and is characterized by an unprecedented vertical accuracy. It is provided at 12 m, 30 m, and 90 m sampling and can be accessed by the scientific community via a standard announcement of opportunity process and the submission of a scientific proposal. The 90 m version is freely available for scientific purposes. The DEM is unedited, which means that it is the pure result of the interferometric SAR processing and subsequent mosaicking. Residual gaps, resulting, e.g., from unprocessable data, are still present and water surfaces appear noisy. This paper reports on the algorithms developed at DLR’s Microwaves and Radar Institute for a fully automatic editing of the global TanDEM-X DEM comprising gap filling and water editing. The result is a new global gap-free DEM product at 30 m sampling, which can be used for a large variety of scientific applications. It also serves as a reference for processing the upcoming TanDEM-X Change DEM layer.


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