SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery provides an alternative to optical imagery for defense and security applications by allowing all-weather, day-and-night analysis. While SAR imagery interpretation requires specialized training due to its distinct characteristics, it can be used to detect changes and identify objects in situations where optical imagery is not available. The presentation provides examples of using SAR imagery from satellites like TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed to detect ships, airplanes, and other objects for defense and security purposes. It also demonstrates how multi-temporal SAR image analysis and advanced products combining amplitude and phase data can be used to detect changes over time.
1. ESRI Conference
SAR Imagery Analysis for
Defence and Security
Daniel Carrasco
Rosana Romero
Ainhoa Mendizábal
ESRI Conference- Madrid / 27 october 2011
2. CONTENTS
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
00 About Indra
01 Introduction
02 Imagery Exploitation Approach for Defence & Security
03 GMOSAIC project
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3. About Indra
Company highlights
The premier IT company in Spain and a
leading IT multinational in Europe and Latam
37,000 professionals 110 countries
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Own solutions and technology
Differential business model based on Innovation
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Among the 3 largest European IT services companies by market cap
4. Security & Defence
27%
About Indra
Transportation & Traffic
(…)
20%
Space
Company activities
Simulation
Aerial Defence
Energy & Industry
Electronic Warfare
Homeland Security
15%
Command Control & Comms.
Health & Public
Administration
14%
51%
International
Financial Sector
13%
Telecom & Media
10%
4
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
5. About Indra
Remote Sensing Systems
18 years experience in High level data Remote Sensing
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
satellite ground processing and applications and
segment dissemination systems services
Civilian and Defence GMES
Helios I & II systems R&D
Pleiades Spatial Data Infrastructures Training
SMOS MoD exploitation systems High volume cartographic
Ingenio & Paz SAR data processing production
METOP Urban geoinformation Imagery supply
Etc. management Advanced geoinformation
Certified developer for
ERDAS, ESRI, Intergraph
Consultancy and market
studies
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6. 01 INTRODUCTION
Why SAR for imagery analysis?
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Barcelona as seen from Barcelona at night
Tibidabo in a foggy day
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8. 01 INTRODUCTION
SAR IMAGES: AVDVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS
Advantages: you program, you get it!
All Weather + Day and Night
Drawbacks: it is hard to use! (radically distinct from optical)
Need of specialised training
Specialised SW
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
SAR Images present distinct spectral and radiometric characteristics from optical
data, so a different analysis is required. We see different things!
Cannot replace optical imagery photointerpretation
performance, but it can be the only choice!
Caveat: Wrong expectations, prejudices and lack of training or
processing infrastructure can make optical analysts reluctant to
use SAR imagery and yield project failure. A new mindset is
needed
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9. 01 INTRODUCTION
SAR IMAGES: METHODOLOGY
WHERE? HOW? PRODUCTS
In areas where A complement to One image is used
optical data fails to optical imagery. for target detection,
deliver, permanent recognition, and
cloud cover areas or Best performance identification.
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
during the night . when the area is
previously known Pair of images is
Crisis situations, used for change
and we focus on
where more frequent detection. Can use
changes.
acquisitions are radar phase!
needed. Only in exceptional
cases, when optical Set of images are
data is not available, used for temporal
the analysis of an analysis of changes.
area can be based
only on SAR images.
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10. 01 INTRODUCTION
Processing at Ground Segment or at customer’s
SLC/detected ortho
Ground Segment High level
exploitation
system
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
changes
series
ortho
imint
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11. 01 INTRODUCTION
SAR IMAGES: HIGH LEVEL PRODUCTS
Amplitude basic products
Detected products (standard image)
Ortho product:
with own DEM
at our facilities
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Change detection basic products
Automatic processing
Time series for continuous surveillance
Combined Amplitude/Phase advanced products
Additional information without counterpart in optical imagery
13. 02 Methodology for Defence & Security Applications
Objectives detection and recognition – Port Area
TSX HS Image (<1 m)
XXX
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Dry dock
Floating dock
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14. 02 Methodology for Defence & Security Applications
Objectives detection and recognition – Port Area
Google Earth
XXX
Dry dock
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Floating dock
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34. 01 INTRODUCTION
SAR IMAGES: PRODUCTS – Amplitude
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
SSI CSK HS Image (<1 m) (5 images)
35. 02 Methodology for Defence & Security Applications
SUPER RESOLUTION IMAGES ADVANTAGES
Advantages: Superresolution images ease and improve the
imagery analysis wrt
Speckle reduction without spatial resolution loss.
Better border definition.
Volumetric features and textures: forest, trees,...
Small features.
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Drawbacks:
Higher cost: at least 3-4 images are needed to obtain an
acceptable SSI image.
Choice of the dates is very important for a proper interpretation
of the changes.
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36. 01 INTRODUCTION
SAR IMAGES: PRODUCTS Amplitude + phase
Red: Removed features
Green: New features
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Yellow: Features are
present in both images but
they have been moved
Blue: Non changed
features with low
backscattering
White: Non changed
features with high
backscattering
MTC product obtained from
CSK HS Images (<1 m)
37. 02 Methodology for Defence & Security Applications
CHANGE DETECTION WITH INSAR
Imagen Multitemporal con coherencia obtenida con TSX_SL
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
TSX_SL_20090813
Rojo: elementos que desaparecen
Verde: elementos que aparecen
Amarillo: elementos que han cambiado entre las dos fechas
Azul: elementos que no cambian con reflectividad baja
Blanco: elementos que no cambian con reflectividad alta 37
38. 02 Methodology for Defence & Security Applications
INDRA SAR EXPLOITATION ENVIRONMENT FOR DEFENCE &
SECURITY
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Indra SAR tool for the exploitation of SAR products & Imagery Analysis. Plug-in for 38
standard COTS for Image Processing
39. 03 GMOSAIC PROJECT
is a GMES Security Pilot Project under the FP7
Programme with the objective of identifying and developing products,
methodologies and pilot services for the provision of geo-spatial
information in support of EU external actions for security related
activities.
G-MOSAIC has developed
services for security
SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
applications to support
intelligence and early
warning and Crisis
Management Operations.
In most of GMOSAIC
services, SAR images are
used to obtain the final
products.
SAR imagery is a means to
an end!
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40. SAR Imagery Analysis for Defence and Security
Daniel Carrasco
Rosana Romero
Ainhoa Mendizabal
Remote Sensing Systems
Indra Espacio
Mar Egeo, 4.
Polígono Industrial nº 1
28830 San Fernando de Henares
Madrid España
T +34 91 626 90 00
F +34 91 626 88 90
www.indra.es
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