Exploitation of multi-temporal SAR and EO satellite imagery for geospatial intelligence

Abstract

The simultaneous exploitation of multi- sensor imagery for geospatial intelligence applications is a challenging problem, and Image Analysts would benefit from tools that introduce automation and fusion into the exploitation process in a suitable manner. These tools should take advantage of the human cognitive ability to fuse and assimilate multiple sources and types of information; image fusion tools should be judged successful if they trigger new insight for the Image Analyst. This paper describes some relatively- simple methods for the exploitation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical (EO) commercial satellite imagery, with a focus on their integration into the geospatial intelligence workflow. Two examples of multi-temporal satellite imagery products produced by a DRDC Ottawa test-bed system, Image Analyst Pro, are presented. It is demonstrated that a high-resolution panchromatic EO image colourized by a SAR-derived degree of change is an effective intelligence product