Experiences about the Cosmo-skymed Stripmap Image Data Processing – First Results of Cosmo-skymed Ao Research Project

The use of COSMO-SkyMed data in the SAR interferometric techniques opens up new possibilities both for the monitoring of the surface deformation phenomena and the 3D measurements of the territory thanks to their height resolution. GEOCART engineering company has developed an own software called “SLIDE” [1,2,3] (Sar Land Interferometry Data Exploitation) to process ERS SAR data in order to produce displacement maps of the territory by using the PSInSAR technique [4,5]. This paper presents the first results from the COSMOSkyMed AO research project (ID-1380): “A software tool in order to process SAR stripmap data and calculate the deformation map with subcentimeter precision” regarding the adjustments of “SLIDE” to process COSMO data, and the first experiences on passive artificial Corner Reflectors (CRs). 1. TEST SITE AND DATA SET Two test sites in the Basilicata region (Southern Italy) have been chosen for the project. Figure 1. Descending “Agri-Pollino” scene (AP_DSC), ascending “Potenza” scene (PZ_ASC) in Google Earth Image. Basilicata Region (white colour) and Italy (green colour) indicated in the top right square. The former named “Agri-Pollino” is located in the south-west of the region and is historically subject to landslides. It includes the urban centres of Maratea, Lagonegro and Lauria. Maratea is a village on the sea, it is called “the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea” for the beautiful panorama. Maratea’s urban centre is placed in a smoothly sloping valley behind two mountains at north-west and southeast. The second test site called “Potenza” because municipality of Potenza is localized in the centre of the frame. The “Potenza” frame covers the area where prototypal passive Corner Reflectors (CRs) were tested and where, subsequently, ten pairs of CRs have been installed. The interferometric multitemporal datasets of COSMO-SkyMed Stripmap Himage of level 1A are necessary to test “SLIDE” processing chain. These are characterized by a swath extension of about 40 km, a spatial resolution of 3x3 m single look and polarization VV. Moreover, the multitemporal data used are 13 in descending orbit with right look side and 33° incidence angle for the “AgriPollino” area, and 10 in ascending orbit with right look side and 48° incidence angle for “Potenza” area (Tab. 1.). Table 1. COSM-SkyMed dataset used "POTENZA" SCENE "AGRI-POLLINO" SCENE DATE SATELLITE DATE SATELLITE 20100914 CSKS1 20100518 CSKS2 20101125 CSKS2 20100713 CSKS1 20101126 CSKS3 20100721 CSKS2 20101203 CSKS1 20100806 CSKS2 20101211 CSKS2 20100830 CSKS1 20101219 CSKS1 20100907 CSKS2 20101227 CSKS2 20100915 CSKS1 20101228 CSKS3 20100923 CSKS2 20110104 CSKS1 20101009 CSKS2 20110112 CSKS2 20101017 CSKS1