TanDEM-X: mission concept and performance analysis

Abstract

Abstract-This paper analyses the potential of TanDEM-X to acquire highly accurate digital elevation models (DEMs) on a global scale. For this, an appropriate mission concept will be introduced which allows for the generation of a world-wide DEM according to the emerging HRTI level 3 standard within 3 years. The achievable height accuracy will be derived from a detailed performance analysis taking into account the major system and scene parameters. Critical issues will be identified together with a derivation of essential requirements on both the system and mission level.

Evaluation of TanDEM-X elevation data for geomorphological mapping and interpretation in high mountain environments — A case study from SE Tibet, China

“…To comply with DTED/HRTI-3 specifications, the DLR is planning to use at least two interferograms per viewing side in order to provide topographic information independent of aspect and to reduce the influence of phase noise by averaging different datasets (Krieger et al, 2005;. Applying a multibaseline approach, at least two interferograms with slightly deviating perpendicular baselines are simultaneously incorporated into the phase unwrapping process, vastly reducing the ambiguity inherent to integration jumps because the direction of the phase jump can be clearly detected (Rossi et al, 2012).…”

“…Thus a flexible single-pass interferometer is generated which is unprecedented in the history of SAR interferometry (Krieger et al, 2005(Krieger et al, , 2007. The primary objective of the mission is the generation of a global DEM compliant to the DTED/HRTI-3 specification (DLR, 2010).…”

“…However, coverage is strictly limited to smaller study areas because of technical limitations (Smith, 2002;McGlone, 2007;Nelson et al, 2008). The yet unreleased operative TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) global DEM promises to alleviate these problems through high-quality radar interferometric measurement and processing that result in a posting of 12 m and supposedly low error-proneness, reducing the resolution gap between (near-) global and local datasets (Krieger et al, 2005;DLR, 2011;Rossi et al, 2012). However, the achievable DEM quality from this new dataset and its applicability toward geomorphological investigations still have to be demonstrated, particularly for high mountain environments.…”

Improved estimation of flood parameters by combining space based SAR data with very high resolution digital elevation data

“…However, during the last years LiDAR DEMs became more and more available and have been successfully used for hydraulic applications in river flood plains. In the near future, the upcoming TanDEM-X satellite constellation renders the possibility to provide elevation data of a new dimension on a global scale (Krieger et al, 2005). On this basis the proposed methodology represents a promising tool for improving flood monitoring and flood mapping, especially in large ungauged basins.…”

On the use of COSMO/SkyMed data and Weather Models for interferometric DEM generation

“…These results indicate that normal baselines higher than 300 m are required for fulfilling the HRTI Level 3 specifications on the relative vertical accuracy when generating interferometric DEMs with COSMO/SkyMed in tandem-like configuration. The theoretical study in [Krieger et al, 2005] carried out for the TDX mission, estimates a minimum value for normal baseline of about 150 m (for a monostatic configuration). The higher value measured in our case can be explained in terms of both temporal and Doppler decorrelations which can be neglected in the case of TDX mission.…”