Geological mapping of Jharia Coalfield,India using GRACE EGM2008 gravity data: a vertical derivative approach

High-resolution satellite gravity data of gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) generated by Earth Gravity Model-2008 (EGM2008) have been utilised for geological mapping of the Jharia coalfield. The generated GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity data have been processed for estimation of gravity anomaly map. The gravity anomaly map has been enhanced using the first and second Vertical Derivatives techniques. Geological and structural maps of the study area have been overlapped over different derivative maps to analyse the correlation with the subsurface geological structures of the study area. Major distinct geological signatures, on different derivative maps, are correlated well with the existing geological map. Moreover, vertical derivative maps of the gravity data generated from GRACE EGM2008 model provide better agreement and understanding for geological setting of the Jharia coalfield.     

High Resolution TerraSAR-X Image Speckle Suppression and its Fusion with Multispectral IRS LISS –III Data for Himalayan Glacier Feature Extraction

In this study an attempt is made for studying the Himalayan glacier features using TerraSAR-X and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, Linear Imaging Self Scanning System III (IRS LISS –III) images. New generation, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from TerraSAR-X (TS-X) sensor provide opportunity for glacier feature studies in Himalayan rugged terrain. Spot Light High resolution mode TS-X data give idea about glacial features which remained untraceable from other existing SAR system. However, presence of speckle noise in SAR images degrades the interpretability of the glacier features. Speckle suppression filters (Lee, Frost, Enhanced Lee, Gamma-Map) are applied on SAR intensity images. On the basis of field sight seeing and insitu observations it is observed that still features are not clear. Hence attempt has been made for fusing multitemporal multispatial speckle reduced TS-X SAR data and multispectral IRS LISS-III data for extracting the glacial features such as crevasses, exposed ice and superaglacier lakes. Principal component analysis (PCA) represents the high spectral resolution data in a linear subspace with minimum information loss. Herein, PCA based image fusion technique is adopted for this study and comparison is made between IHS fusion technique and PCA based technique for glacier studies in the Himalayan region.     

Multi-source change detection with PALSAR data in the Southern of Pará state in the Brazilian Amazon

Optical data is broadly used for change detection studies, despite being hindered by atmospheric conditions. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data can be useful for change detection in areas with frequent cloud coverage as SAR systems are capable of obtaining images almost independently from atmospheric conditions. This study aims to verify the difference in results of using SAR data instead of optical data for change detection purposes. Different levels of one hierarchical legend and both pixel and region-based classifiers were used. Change results were evaluated considering the use of rectangular matrices to incorporate the occurrence of impossible changes and relative comparison between change maps. Although the change maps obtained using only optical data were more accurate than those using either one or two land cover classifications based on L-band SAR data, the difference in the accuracy of change maps decreases with the use of less detailed legends. Additionally, results indicate that L-band SAR and multi-sensor approaches are adequate for deforestation identification even if post-classification results did not achieve global accuracy values superior to 0.86. The most accurate change detection results obtained in this work were not associated with the overall accuracy of land cover classifications, but with the distribution and accuracy of specific land cover classes.     

Usage of ERS SAR data over the Singhbhum Shear Zone,India for structural mapping and tectonic studies

The extraction of lineaments and anomalous patterns in the Singhbhum Shear Zone, Jharkhand, India, has multifaceted applications for mineral exploration as well as for geological interpretation of neotectonic movements. ERS-1 SAR data are very useful for such applications because of their structural information content. A comparative study has been attempted with ERS, Landsat and IRS images for the interpretation of various geological structures over the Singhbhum Shear Zone. The Rose diagram generated from this study has shown major trends that matched well with the geological map of the area and the associated tectonic boundary as well as with the results obtained from ground based studies.     

Interpretation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for geological appraisal: A comparative study in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh

The paper describes the details of a comparative study of geological interpretations carried out from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, Landsat MSS (B & W) imagery and Aerial Photographs, covering 2100 sq km of area in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The area comprises Peninsular—Gneissic Complex and rocks of Dharwar and Cuddapah Super Groups beside the Quaternary alluvial deposits along the Penneru river and its tributaries. Geomorphologically the areas is represented by denudational, fluvial and structural landforms. The study indicates that the details of the geological and geomorphological maps prepared from SAR imagery and aerial photographs are comparable despite the smaller scale of SAR imagery while the same are not exhibited in Landsat imagery mainly due to its low resolution. Although broad lithological units are possible to be discriminated on SAR as well as aerial photographs, some of the finer rock types viz. gabbroic dykes could be discriminated from the delerite dykes in the SAR imagery due to their different surface roughness. Stereoscopic coverage and enhanced micro-relief of SAR imagery gives better geomorphological details in comparison to aerial photographs. A detailed study of lineaments has also been carried out which shows that in SAR imagery there is over-representation of short lineaments due to enhanced micro-relief and radarshadow effects across the look direction and under-representation of lineaments along the look direction. Landsat imagery is perhaps the best for demarcating lineaments of regional magnitude while aerial photographs are good for depicting shorter lineaments. However, certain lineaments seen in SAR imagery are often not continuously seen on aerial photographs.     

Delineation of structural features over a part of the Bay of Bengal using total and balanced horizontal derivative techniques

The present study deals with classical problem of edge detection in potential field data over complex tectonic regime for both shallower and deeper sources, simultaneously. Balanced horizontal derivative (BHD) technique is a latest edge detection concept which delineates edges using balancing of amplitude responses for both shallower and deeper sources. The BHD technique has been validated by comparing with total horizontal derivative (THD) technique. Initially, three different synthetic models have been generated with spherical, cylindrical and vertical prismatic objects at different depths and corresponding gravity responses have been enhanced using BHD and THD techniques. Structural features have been delineated from EIGEN6C4 free-air gravity data using THD and BHD techniques over a part of the Bay of Bengal. Major lineaments have been identified in N–S direction followed by those identified along the NE–SW, NW–SE and E–W directions. Both studies of synthetic models and real gravity data reveal that BHD is an advanced technique than THD.     

基于引力场增强的SAR图像舰船检测方法研究

船只检测是实现船只航行安全的重要措施之一,利用SAR图像可实现船只检测。然而,传统的一些方法一般容易受到SAR图像斑噪的影响,在检测结果中产生大量的虚警。为解决这一问题,本文提出了一种基于引力场增强的舰船检测方法。该方法利用像素与其邻域内像素的相互作用可对目标像素增强的效应,有效地抑制了斑噪像素和背景像素的强度,凸显了目标。由于增强后的像素已经不满足对海面区域的均质性假设,因此直接使用恒虚警检测算法对图像进行全局检测并不能够得到很好的效果,据此本文引入了一个基于均质区域自适应分割的改进的K-CFAR检测算法,将图像分割为不同大小的一系列均质区域,并分别对各个均质区域使用一个改进的K-CFAR检测器对船只目标进行检测。最后,使用Radarsat-1数据和Envisat ASAR数据对本文算法进行了验证。实验表明,本文提出的方法能够有效地凸显弱目标,增加检测准确性,降低检测的虚警概率。     

无地面控制点的星载SAR影像直接对地定位研究

针对星栽合成孔径雷达（SAR）对地面目标的定位问题，分析了在无地面控制点的情况下，利用距离-多普勒（R-D）模型和地球模型进行对地定位的理论与方法，给出了在无地面控制点（GCP）而有数字高程模型的情况下利用R-D模型进行对地定位的求解方法。用天津地区ERS-1数据进行实验，其结果与当地地形图进行比较，精度在50m以内，表明该文提出的方法是正确、可行的。     

Accuracy Assessment of Digital Elevation Model Generated by SAR Stereoscopic Technique Using COSMO-Skymed Data

Radargrammetry technique using the stereoscopic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is used for the generation of a digital elevation model (DEM) of a region requires only the amplitude images. SAR stereoscopic technique is analogous to the stereo-photogrammetric technique where the optical stereoscopic images are used for DEM generation. While the advantages of the SAR images are their indifference to atmospheric transparency and solar illumination conditions, the side-looking geometry of the SAR increases the complexity in the SAR stereo analysis. The availability of high spatial and temporal resolution SAR data in recent years has facilitated generation of high-resolution DEM with greater vertical accuracy using radargrammetric technique. In the present study, attempt has been made to generate the DEM of Dehra Dun region, India, from the COSMO-Skymed X-band SAR data-pair acquired at 8 days interval through the radargrammetry technique. Here, radargrammetric orientation approach has been adopted to generate the DEM and various issues and processing steps with the radargrammetry technique have been discussed. The DEM was validated with ground measured elevation values using a differential global positioning system and the root-mean-square error of the DEM was found as 7.3 m. The DEM was compared with the reference DEM of the study area generated from the Cartosat-1 stereo data with a model accuracy of 4 m.     

Assessment of Land Surface Subsidence Due to Underground Metal Mining Using Integrated Spaceborne Repeat-Pass Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) Technique and Ground Based Observations

Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) is a novel remote sensing technique to measure earth surface deformation. It is capable of obtaining dense information related to the deformation of a large area efficiently, economically and effectively. Therefore, DInSAR is a promising technology for monitoring the earth surface deformation related to some natural hazardous events, such as earthquake, volcano eruption, land subsidence, landslide. In present study, Conventional DInSAR technique have been applied to a mineral rich zone, coming under the Khetri copper belt, a part of Northern Aravali range of hillocks in India, predominant with mining activities since late 1960’s to address the possibility of deformation phenomena due to hard rock underground metal mining. Four interferometric SAR data sets of Radarsat-2 was used for the study area to address the subsidence/uplift phenomena. Further, results obtained from conventional DInSAR technique using Radarsat-2 data sets compared with results obtained from ground based observation technique for its validity. In both the techniques, deformation results obtained in terms of average subsidence rate in mm (quarterly basis) of points under study within mining zone of Mine-A has well agreed to each other. Further, it has been observed that average subsidence rate in mm (quarterly basis) obtained from space based observation and ground based observation are 5.6 and 6.67, respectively over the points under study in mining zone of Mine-A.     

A Novel Approach of Despeckling SAR Images Using Nonlocal Means Filtering

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a day and night, all weather satellite imaging technology. Inherent property of SAR image is speckle noise which produces granular patterns in the image. Speckle noise occurs due to the interference of backscattered echo from earth’s rough surface. There are various speckle reduction techniques in spatial domain and transform domain. Non local means filtering (NLMF) is the technique used for denoising which uses Gaussian weights. In NLMF algorithm, the filtering is performed by taking the weighted mean of all the pixels in a selected search area. The weight given to the pixel is based on the similarity measure calculated as the weighted Euclidean distance over the two windows. Non local means filtering smoothes out homogeneous areas but edges are not preserved. So a discontinuity adaptive weight is used in order to preserve heterogeneous areas like edges. This technique is called as discontinuity adaptive non local means filtering and is well-adapted and robust in the case of Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) model. But speckle is a multiplicative random noise and hence Euclidean distance is not a good choice. This paper presents evaluation results of using different distance measures for improving the accuracy of the Non local means filtering technique. The results are verified using real and synthetic images and from the results it can be concluded that the usage of Manhattan distance improves the accuracy of NLMF technique. Non local approach is used as a preprocessing or post processing technique for many denoising algorithms. So improving NLMF technique would help improving many of the existing denoising techniques.     

Practical Application of 3D Visualization Using Geotechnical Database: A Case Study Karsiyaka (Izmir) Settlement Area (Turkey)

3D geographic information system software’s (GIS) are widely used in engineering geology applications. This study was performed in the Karsiyaka settlement area for the preparation of engineering geological maps and evaluation of geological structures. Firstly, topographic maps digitized with Arcview GIS 3.2. Engineering geological maps were prepared using site works and digitized with the Rockworks 2006 programme and later stored in GIS-based computer systems. 3D modelling analysis and assessment using a geotechnical database is important to assist decision-making for land use and metro subway line planning, construction site selection, selection of water sources, etc. In this respect, the sub-surface of the study area is fully 3D visualized and useful soil class zonation maps for different depths maps are performed to be used in further studies. At last, after research at this site, the construction applications of Karsiyaka have multiplied.     

InSAR林下地形测绘方法与研究进展

传统光学遥感技术手段在森林覆盖区难以准确获取林下地形,原因在于其只能测量森林冠层顶部高程。微波信号能够穿透森林冠层并记录森林垂直结构信息,为解决林下地形测绘难题带来了契机,如何准确获取林下地形已成为微波遥感领域的研究热点。首先介绍了面向林下地形测绘的合成孔径雷达（synthetic aperture radar,SAR）干涉测高原理及数据获取手段。然后对利用SAR进行林下地形测绘的方法进行了分类,主要包括基于合成孔径雷达干涉测量（interferometric synthetic aperture radar,InSAR）、极化合成孔径雷达干涉测量（polarimetric InSAR,PolInSAR）及基于多基线InSAR/PolInSAR数据的层析SAR（tomographic SAR,TomoSAR）技术的林下地形测绘方法,并介绍了上述3种方法的应用进展。最后在此基础上,从数据获取、误差改正及散射模型构建3个角度分析了林下地形测绘所面临的问题。     

噪声抑制的多极化SAR海冰图像分割

合成孔径雷达(SAR)海冰图像分割对全球气候研究和保证船舶航行安全具有重要意义。现有的基于区域的马尔可夫随机场(MRF)多极化SAR分割方法,由于受相干斑噪声影响,其区域划分不尽合理,不能有效完成分割。因此,提出一种噪声抑制的多极化SAR海冰图像分割算法,首先在极化总功率图上引入降低噪声的滤波算法,合理划分初始区域,其次考虑区域之间的差异度,从而实现多极化SAR海冰图像的准确分割。以RADARSAT-2和SIR-C获得的全极化海冰图像为实验数据进行验证,结果表明:和其他较先进算法相比,本文算法优势明显,既能高效保持图像连通性,又能增强图像的细节信息,具有更高的分割精度。     

Dleineation and characterization of geomorphological features in a part of lower maharahstra metamorphic plateau using IRS-ID LISS-III Data

In the present study, an attempt has been made to delineate and characterize the different geomorphic units of Tundiya river catchment in a part of Lower Maharahstra Metamorphic Plateau, north-eastern part of Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The drainage, contour and delineated geological units have been overlaid on IRS-ID LISS III satellite imagery (bands 2,3 and 4) in EASI/PACE analysis system to delineate and characterize different geomorphological units and analysis of their processes based on the field observations. The study area is basically of metamorphic in origin with different geological formations and is influenced by the various fluvio-morphological processes. Based on the satellite data analysis, the distinct geomorphological units viz., table top summits, structural hills, subdued plateau, linear ridges, shallow, moderate and deeply buried foot slopes, shallow valley fills and deep valley fills have been delineated and characterized. The information generated from satellite data in the form of vector layers has been used in GIS to generate geological and geomorphological maps of the study area. The present study demonstrates that IRS-ID LISS-III data in conjunction with geology, drainage and contour parameters to enable detailed evaluation of different geomorphological units and analysis of their processes based on the field observations. The delineated geomorphological units can be utilized for evaluation and management of natural resources and geo-environment on sustainable basis at river catchment level.     

高分辨率机载SAR影像空中三角测量模型

目前,我国西部地区近2000000km2的国土面积还缺乏相应比例尺的地形图,由于西部多云多雾天气条件的限制,采用高分辨率机载SAR遥感影像成为遥感技术测图实施中的重要数据源之一。同时,为了减少地面控制点的外业测量工作,研究如何获取足够数量及精度的控制点也成为当务之急。本文分析了高分辨率机载SAR影像空三应用的条件,并在测区稀少控制点的条件下,讨论DGPS/INS辅助机载SAR影像空三向量模型以及相应的数据处理方法,为机载SAR影像获取地面控制点的实际应用提供理论依据。     

Detection and monitoring of offshore oil seeps using ERS/ENVISAT SAR/ASAR data and seep-seismic studies in Krishna–Godavari offshore basin,India

An attempt has been made to use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for detection and monitoring of offshore oil seeps in the eastern offshore areas of the Krishna–Godavari Basin, which has been supplemented and correlated with collateral free-air gravity and seismic data. Images of the study area obtained from ENVISAT ASAR image mode were processed and analysed in detail. A number of natural oil seepages were identified and distinguished from pollution and biogenic slicks. These were subsequently studied using different parameters to assign various degrees of confidence. The repetitiveness of the identified seepages was studied and a total of five areas of seep repetitions had been recognized in the study area. The seeps that are repeated in images of different dates are more likely to be of natural origin than others. Simulation and modelling of a particular oil slick arising has been attempted over the Krishna–Godavari offshore using MIKE 21 software.     

Utilization of high-resolution EGM2008 gravity data for geological exploration over the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton,India

High-resolution EIGEN6C4 and EGM2008 Bouguer gravity data of 2190 degree spherical harmonic over the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton, India, have been generated from the International Centre for Global Earth Models. The Bouguer gravity anomaly difference maps of (i) in situ and EIGEN6C4, (ii) in situ and EGM2008 and iii) EIGEN6C4 and EGM2008 of the study area are compared. It reveals that EIGEN6C4 has lesser systematic error than EGM2008. However, from different profile plots of Bouguer gravity, east–west horizontal derivative and north–south horizontal derivative anomalies of the in situ, EIGEN6C4 and EGM2008, it is observed that most of the signatures of lithounits and geological structural elements are delineated very well by EGM2008 and match 94–98% with those of EIGEN6C4. Further, the Bouguer gravity, east–west horizontal derivative and north–south horizontal derivative anomalies of EGM2008 data over the study area have been used effectively for identifying various lithounits and geological structural elements.     

Textural Classification of Single Band SIR‐B Data over a Part of Brahmaputra Basin,India

Abstract

Texture is an important spatial feature, useful for identfying objects of regions of interest in an image. There are a number of methods for identification of textural parameters e.g. edgeness, frequency domain analysis, gray tone cooccurrence approach etc. Geologic information in radar images of heavily vegetated areas is contained mostly in the depiction of topography in image texture. Single band SIR/ERS‐1 SAR data posses a problem to the analyst for classification of the various land use/geological classes and generally multidate SAR data are used due to paucity of more number of bands. However, the multidate SAR data classification is not an ideal technique. A new technique, namely, spatial frequency band pass classification technique which generates two or more bands in the Fourier domain using the single band SAR data and then classifies various features of interest using their textural properties has been described here. Result shows higher percentage of classification using Maximum‐Likelihood Classifier (MXL) with two split‐band data as compared to the unsupervised classification of all the bands.     

Analysis at medium scale of low-resolution DInSAR data in slow-moving landslide-affected areas

Landslide studies over large areas call for multidisciplinary analyses supported by accurate ground displacement measurements. At present, conventional techniques can be valuably complemented by innovative satellite techniques such as Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR), furnishing huge amounts of data at competitively affordable costs. This work investigates the remote sensed data potential in landslide studies starting from the awareness of the present constraints of the technique. To this end, with reference to a sample area–within the territory of the National Basin Authority of Liri-Garigliano and Volturno rivers (Central-Southern Italy)–for which detailed base and thematic maps are available, quantitative examples of DInSAR data coverage on both different land-uses and landslide-affected areas are shown. Then, an original tool for “a priori DInSAR landslide visibility zoning” is proposed to address the choice of the most suitable image datasets. Finally, referring to the visible zones, the outcomes of DInSAR data for checking/updating landslide inventory maps at 1:25,000 scale highlight appealing perspectives, also holding the promise of obtaining relevant information in the landslide hazard evaluation.