SAR SATELLITE DATA
Learn about Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data and how to add it to your ArcGIS Pro map
SAR SENSORS
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data can come from many sensors by various providers. A provider is a government or commercial entity such as the Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, ICEYE, etc., who is responsible for launching the SAR satellite and then acquiring the SAR sensor data and has not modified the metadata. In ArcGIS Pro, the supported SAR sensors are currently Capella, ICEYE, RADARSAT-2, RCM, and Sentinel-1.
SAR PRODUCTS
SAR data is commonly delivered from providers as two products:
- Ground Range Detected (GRD) - GRD products have been averaged to produce a multilooked image projected to the ground plane using an earth ellipsoid model. A GRD image is stored as a real valued array in which the value in each pixel represents the intensity of the measured backscatter signal.
- Single Look Complex (SLC) - SLC products are images in the image plane of the data acquisition, known as the slant plane. An SLC image is stored as a complex valued array in which the single complex value in each pixel represents the intensity and phase of the measured backscatter signal.
CHOOSING A PRODUCT
Which type of analysis you are doing will determine which of product you will need.
WORKING WITH GRD DATA Any analysis which utilizes the pixel intensity:
- Map floods
- Classify deforestation
- Chart sea ice
- Detect oil spills
- Monitor maritime activity
- Track wildfires
WORKING WITH SLC DATA Any analysis which involves interferometry * which utilizes the pixel phase:
- Coherent Change Detection (CCD)
- Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR)
- Digital Elevation Model (DEM) generation
* interferometry - using the phase difference or interference between two signals
SAR RASTER PRODUCT
The SAR products are represented in the ArcGIS framework as SAR raster products (i.e. GRD and SLC) and contain raster product templates (i.e. beam mode). This allows you to add SAR data to your map directly from the original dataset, without the need for additional import or conversion tools. A raster product can have one or multiple raster product templates associated with them. Adding a raster product directly will add the default template.
SAR RASTER TYPE
SAR data is added to a mosaic dataset using SAR raster types. In ArcGIS Pro, currently the supported SAR raster types are:
ADD SAR DATA
Learn how to use SAR raster types to add a GRD SAR raster product from the following supported SAR sensors : Capella , ICEYE , RADARSAT-2 , RCM , and Sentinel-1 to your ArcGIS Pro map.
ADDING CAPELLA SAR DATA
This example uses Capella Space SAR data from the Capella Space Platform . Within the Capella dataset directory, the raster product can be added to the map from the .json file. Tip: Use bilinear pyramids for better imagery rendering.
Expanding the .json file shows the raster product and raster product template (i.e. Spotlight). Both the raster product and raster product template can be loaded to ArcGIS Pro. The available polarizations are represented as bands in Contents pane. Since Capella data has a single polarization, the raster product is loaded as a single-band raster.
To learn more about Capella Space, visit this website .
ADDING ICEYE SAR DATA
This example uses ICEYE SAR data from the ICEYE Download SAR datasets . Within the ICEYE dataset directory, the raster product can be added to the map from the .xml file. Tip: Use bilinear pyramids for better imagery rendering.
Expanding the .xml file shows the raster product and raster product template (i.e. Scan). Both the raster product and raster product template can be loaded to ArcGIS Pro. The available polarizations are represented as bands in Contents pane. Since ICEYE data has a single polarization, the raster product is loaded as a single-band raster.
To learn more about ICEYE, visit the ICEYE website .
ADDING RADARSAT-2 SAR DATA
This example uses RADARSAT-2 SAR data from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) . RADARSAT-2 data is available from the Earth Observation Data Management System (EODMS) . Within the RADARSAT-2 dataset directory, the raster product can be added to the map from the .xml file. Tip: Use bilinear pyramids for better imagery rendering.
Expanding the .xml file shows the raster product and raster product template (i.e. Standard). Both the raster product and raster product template can be loaded to ArcGIS Pro. The available polarizations are represented as bands in Contents pane. Since RADARSAT-2 data has dual polarization (HH, HV), the raster product is loaded as an RGB raster.
To learn more about the RADARSAT-2 mission, visit the Canadian Space Agency website.
ADDING RCM SAR DATA
This example uses RCM SAR data from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) . RCM data is available from the Earth Observation Data Management System (EODMS) . Within the RCM dataset directory, the raster product can be added to the map from the manifest.safe file. Tip: Use bilinear pyramids for better imagery rendering.
Expanding the manifest.safe file shows the raster product and raster product template (i.e. Spotlight). Both the raster product and raster product template can be loaded to ArcGIS Pro. The available polarizations are represented as bands in Contents pane. Since RCM data has dual polarization (HH, HV), the raster product is loaded as an RGB raster.
To learn more about the RCM constellation, visit the Canadian Space Agency website.
ADDING SENTINEL-1 SAR DATA
This example uses Sentinel-1 SAR data from the European Space Agency (ESA). Sentinel-1 data is available from the Copernicus data hub and the Alaska Satellite Facility . Within the Sentinel-1 dataset directory, the raster product can be added to the map from the manifest.safe file. Tip: Use bilinear pyramids for better imagery rendering.
Expanding the manifest.safe file shows the raster product and raster product template (i.e. IW). Both the raster product and raster product template can be loaded to ArcGIS Pro. The available polarizations are represented as bands in the Contents pane. Since Sentinel-1 data has dual polarization (VV,VH), the raster product is loaded as an RGB raster.
To learn more about Sentinel-1, visit the European Space Agency website.
WORK WITH SAR DATA
Once the SAR data has been added to your map you can begin working with your scenes. ArcGIS Pro offers geoprocessing tools to process and analyze SAR data.
With the Image Analyst license , users can access ArcGIS Pro tools that support SAR data from various satellite sensors.
GEOPROCESSING TOOLS
Geoprocessing is a framework and set of tools for processing geographic and related data. The comprehensive suite of geoprocessing tools can be used to perform analysis or manage GIS data in an automated way. A tool can be opened and ran from the Geoprocessing pane . You can also use any tool in ModelBuilder or call it from a Python script .
SAR PROCESSING
ArcGIS Pro offers powerful SAR geoprocessing tools to process SAR data in the SAR Toolset. This processing is needed to prepare the SAR data to ensure that it is accurate and properly located so that it can be ready for analysis and interpretation. With the Image Analyst license , users can access ArcGIS Pro tools that support SAR data from various satellite sensors.
- Apply Geometric Terrain Correction Orthorectifies the input SAR data using a range-Doppler backgeocoding algorithm.
- Apply Orbit Correction Updates the orbital information in the SAR dataset using a more accurate orbit state vector (OSV) file.
- Apply Radiometric Calibration Converts the input SAR reflectivity into physical units of normalized backscatter by normalizing the reflectivity using a reference plane.
- Apply Radiometric Terrain Flattening Corrects the input SAR data for radiometric distortions due to topography.
- Convert SAR Units Converts the scaling of the input SAR data between amplitude and intensity and between linear and decibels (dB).
- Create Color Composite Creates a three-band raster dataset from a multiband raster dataset.
- Despeckle Corrects the input SAR data for speckle, which is a result of coherent illumination that resembles a grainy or salt and pepper effect.
- Download Orbit File Downloads the updated orbit files for the input SAR data.
- Remove Thermal Noise Corrects backscatter disturbances caused by thermal noise in the input SAR data, resulting in a more seamless image.
CONTACTS
Esri Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) Specialists
Elizabeth Ashley Menezes
emenezes@esri.com Hello, World! Thanks for reading our StoryMap till the end! I am an Esri Raster Product Engineer on the Imagery & Remote Sensing team. I focus and work on UX/UI design and development of RADAR & SAR based capabilities at Esri. My education is in geophysics and my thesis work centered around understanding induced earthquake occurrences using seismic data and satellite imagery. As an advocate for science communication, I enjoy bridging the gap between science and design — combining my technical knowledge with my keen eye for design to create beautiful science.
Magali Barba-Sevilla
mbarba@esri.com I am the Lead Esri Raster Product Engineer on the Imagery and Remote Sensing team working on RADAR for ArcGIS Pro. I just completed my PhD in geophysics at the University of Colorado Boulder. My research focused on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications in earthquake science. In addition to seismology from space, I am passionate about STEM diversity and outreach. I am the cofounder and former chair of the Society of Latinxs/Hispanics in Earth and Space Science (SOLESS).