Extraction of Topographic Map Elements with SAR Stereoscopic Measurement

SAR is one of very important topographic mapping sensors in the area where there is much cloud and brume using SAR images, because of its advantages compared to optical sensor, such as all-day, all-weather, penetrating a certain depth of ground and so on. SAR interferometry can be used to extract high precise elevation. SAR stereoscopic observation is impossible when observing the same area from different position. The basis of stereoscopic observation is ideal stereoscopic image pair. In this paper, the method generating ideal stereoscopic image pair with SAR stereo pair base on DEM from SAR interferometry is proposed. The vertical parallax between two images of the pair is eliminated, and the horizontal parallax is reconstructed by image simulation according to the DEM. Then topographic map elements, such as contour lines, ground features and so on, can be extracted under digital stereoscopic environment with ideal pair. Mapping experiment with high resolution airborne SAR images proved the method is feasible.