Abstract
Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) based
mapping of surface deformation has proven valuable in a variety of
geoscience applications. Conventional approaches to DInSAR analysis
require significant expertise and are not suited to addressing the
opportunities and challenges presented by the large multi-temporal SAR
datasets generated by future radar constellations. As a result, the
Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) developed, in
support of Natural Resources Canada and Government of Canada priorities,
a system for automatic generation of standard and advanced deformation
products based on DInSAR technology from RADARSAT Constellation Mission
(RCM) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. Existing RADARSAT-2
processing algorithms were adapted to RCM specifications and novel
advanced processing algorithms were developed to address the large data
sets resulting from the constellation’s four-day rapid revisit cycle.
This permitted expanding the DInSAR functionality across a wide-range of
spatial and temporal scales. The system architecture is scalable and can
be expanded to serve a large number of clients; it can simultaneously
address multiple application areas including natural and anthropogenic
hazards, natural resource development, permafrost and glacier
monitoring, coastal and environmental change and wetlands mapping.