SAR tomography for scene elevation and deformation reconstruction: Algorithms and potentialities

Multi-Dimensional (MultiD) SAR imaging is a recent technique, based on coherent SAR data combination, aimed to space (full-3D) and space deformation-velocity (4D) analysis. It is an extension of the concepts of SAR Interferometry and Differential Interferometry and offers new options for the analysis and monitoring of ground scenes. In this work, we discuss the current status and the results obtained by processing ERS real satellite urban data, we investigate perspectives related to the next generation multi-static satellite formations, and we show some sample results regarding 3D and 4D theoretical performance bounds. First space-time 4D analysis results obtained by processing real airborne forest data are also reported.