A terrain elevation error model for stereometric SAR systems engineering

Abstract

A stereometric SAR model for the terrain elevation error is derived which is applicable to general imaging geometries. Range and azimuth stereo sensitivity coefficients are defined which facilitate analysis of wide angle crossed track, as well as parallel track geometries. The geometries are described in terms of a local ground reference point and unit vectors defining the associated slant plane image pairs. Complex-valued image pair correlation is studied for the case of crossed track geometries, including variations with the terrain gradient relative to the slant plane. The associated Prati shift vector and shape of the region of spectral overlap (frequency response support intersection), which characterize the correlation, are also discussed.