• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.26-39
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• 2006

A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system can provide all-weather, day and night imaging capability, and thus, is very useful in surveillance for both civil and military applications. In this paper, the X-band spaceborne SAR system design procedure is introduced with the key design parameters for mission and system requirements characterized by the small satellite platform. The SAR imaging mode design technique is presented, and the design results are analyzed for standard mode performance evaluation. In line with the system requirements, the X-band SAR payload and ground reception/processing sub-systems are presented with the key design results and image applications examples. The designed small satellite SAR system shows the wide range of imaging capability, and proves to be an effective surveillance system in light-weight, high-performance and cost-effective points of view.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2009

The main objective of the research is a feasibility study on the intertidal zone using a X-band radar satellite, TerraSAR-X. The TerraSAR-X data have been acquired in the west coast of Korea where large tidal flats, Ganghwa and Yeongjong tidal flats, are developed. Investigations include: 1) waterline and backscattering characteristics of the high resolution X-band images in tidal flats; 2) polarimetric signature of halophytes (or salt marsh plants), specifically Suaeda japonica; and 3) phase and coherence of interferometric pairs. Waterlines from TerraSAR-X data satisfy the requirement of horizontal accuracy of 60 m that corresponds to 20 cm in average height difference while current other spaceborne SAR systems could not meet the requirement. HH-polarization was the best for extraction of waterline, and its geometric position is reliable due to the short wavelength and accurate orbit control of the TerraSAR-X. A halophyte or salt marsh plant, Suaeda japonica, is an indicator of local sea level change. From X-band ground radar measurements, a dual polarization of VV/VH-pol. is anticipated to be the best for detection of the plant with about 9 dB difference at 35 degree incidence angle. However, TerraSAR-X HH/TV dual polarization was turned to be more effective for salt marsh monitoring. The HH-HV value was the maximum of about 7.9 dB at 31.6 degree incidence angle, which is fairly consistent with the results of X-band ground radar measurement. The boundary of salt marsh is effectively traceable specifically by TerraSAR-X cross-polarization data. While interferometric phase is not coherent within normal tidal flat, areas of salt marsh where the landization is preceded show coherent interferometric phases regardless of seasons or tide conditions. Although TerraSAR-X interferometry may not be effective to directly measure height or changes in tidal flat surface, TanDEM-X or other future X-band SAR tandem missions within one-day interval would be useful for mapping tidal flat topography.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.258-261
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• 2007

Although there have been lack of studies using X-band SAR data particularly for forestry application as compared to C-, and L-band SAR data, it has a potential to distinguish tree species because most signals are backscattered on the top of canopy. This study aimed to compare signal characteristics of multi-band SAR data including X-band for classifying tree species. The data used for the study are SIR-C/X-SAR data (X-, C-, L-band) obtained on Oct. 3, 1994 over the forest area near Seoul, S. Korea. Thirty ground sample plots were collected per each tree species. Initial comparison of backscattering coefficients among three SAR bands shows that X-band data showed better separation of tree species than C- and L-band SAR data irrespective of polarization. The weak penetrating in canopy layer might be possible source of information for X-band data to be useful for the classification of forest species and cover type mapping.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

TerraSAR-X 자료를 이용하여 고해상 X-밴드 SAR 시스템을 이용한 조간대 적용 가능성을 시험하였다 연구대상지역은 강화도 남단과 영종도를 잇는 조간대이며, 단일편파자료와 이중편파자료를 이용하였다. 연구내용은 다음과 같은 세 가지로 분류된다. 첫째, X-밴드 영상에서의 연안의 레이더 반사도 특성 연구 및 waterline 추출 정밀도를 평가하였다. 연안지역의 wateline은 HH 편광자료의 레이더 반사도 특성을 통하여 추출하였을 때 가장 신뢰도가 높았으며, TerraSAR-X 시스템의 짧은 파장과 높은 제도정밀도로 인하여 정밀한 지리좌표로의 변환이 가능하였다 연구지역의 조간대 지형 경사도는 평균적으로 수평방향으로 60m당 20cm의 고도변화를 가지므로, TerraSAR-X HH 편광자료를 이용한 waterline 추출은 정밀한 조간대 DEM 추출로 응용될 수 있다. 둘째, 이중편파자료의 편파특성을 이용한 조간대 염생식물의 산란특성 관측하였다. 조간대에서 수륙의 경계부에서 잘 관측되는 칠면초와 같은 염생식물은 해수면변화에 따른 조간대의 육지화를 모니터링 하는데 좋은 표적이 된다. TerraSAR-X 이중편파자료의 산란특성을 이용한 염생식물 관측결과는 2007년에 현장에서 취득된 실측자료와 비교하여 3dB 이내의 정밀도로 일치하였다 셋째, 단일편파 자료의 레이더 간섭기법을 이용한 조간대 DEM 작성 시도하였다. 조간대 내에서 육지화가 진행된 지역은 표면에 염생식물이 발달하였음에도 불구하고 높은 간섭긴밀도를 나타내었다. 레이더 간섭기법을 통한 DEM의 제작은 일반적인 조간대에서는 적용이 제한적이며, TanDEN-X의 적용이 필요하다.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.155-158
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• 2009

본 논문에서는 DLR(German Aerospace Center)에서 운영하는 TerraSAR-X를 이용하여 2009년 1월 19일 18:28 (Local time) 에 서해 대부도/제부도 및 대부도 남쪽 해안을 촬영한 stripmap mode (Dual-Pol: HH, VV) 화상을 취득하여 향후 고해상도 X-밴드 화상의 활용 방안 및 효용성에 대해 검토해 보았다. 함께 취득된 현장자료와의 비교를 통하여 2010 년에 발사될 예정인 아리랑 5 호의 활용방안을 찾고자 한다. 여기서는, 연안에 설치된 양식시설, 소형 선박 그리고 코너리플렉터에 대해서 해석을 수행하였다. 김 양식시설의 경우, 구조와 설치 각도에 따라 다른 후방산란특성을 보였으며, 같은 시설에 대해서도 HH 편파의 후방산란계수가 VV 보다 2.6 dB 높게 나타났다. 그 이유는 김 양식시설이 TeraSAR-X의 전파전파 방향과 수직하게 되어 후방 산란이 많이 일어나는 반면에, B 지역에 설치된 김 양식시설은 TeraSAR-X의 전파전파방향과 약 45 도 비스듬하게 설치되어 있어, 상대적으로 낮은 후방산란계수를 나타내기 때문이다. 또한 한 변의 길이가 각각 1 m, 0.6 m 인 사각면 삼각 수동 전파반사기 두 개를 제부도 북쪽의 갯벌에 설치하여 TerraSAR-X 의 화상에 나타난 후방산란특성을 분석하였다. TerraSAR-X 의 화상이 X-밴드를 사용하고, 높은 해상도로 인해 power spill이 넓게 분포하는 것을 볼 수 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2012

Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) imaging system is independent of solar illumination and weather conditions; however, SAR image is difficult to interpret as compared with optical images. It has been increased interest in multi-sensor fusion technique which can improve the interpretability of $SAR^{\circ\circ}$ images by fusing the spectral information from multispectral(MS) image. In this paper, a multi-sensor fusion method based on high-frequency extraction process using Fast Fourier Transform(FFT) and outlier elimination process is proposed, which maintain the spectral content of the original MS image while retaining the spatial detail of the high-resolution SAR image. We used TerraSAR-X which is constructed on the same X-band SAR system as KOMPSAT-5 and KOMPSAT-2 MS image as the test data set to evaluate the proposed method. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method, the fusion result was compared visually and quantitatively with the result obtained using existing fusion algorithms. The evaluation results showed that the proposed image fusion method achieved successful results in the fusion of SAR and MS image compared with the existing fusion algorithms.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2008

It is possible to extract qualified ground control points (GCPs) from SAR data itself without published maps. TerraSAR-X data that are one of highest spatial resolution among civilian SAR systems is now available. In this study, a sophisticated method for GCP extraction from TerraSAR-X data was tested and the quality of the extracted GCPs was evaluated. Mean values of the distance errors were 0.11m and -3.96 m with standard deviations of 6.52 m and 5.11 m in easting and northing, respectively. The result is one of the best among GCPs possibly extracted from any civilian remote sensing systems. The extracted GCPs were used for geo-rectification of IKONOS image. The method used in this study can be applied to KOMPSAT-5 for geo-rectification of high-resolution optic images acquired by KOMPSAT-2 or follow-up missions.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.328-331
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• 2008

It is possible to extract qualified ground control points (GCPs) solely from SAR data without published maps. TerraSAR-X is now in orbit and provides valuable data that have one of the highest spatial resolutions among civilian SAR systems. In this study, a sophisticated method for GCP coordinate extraction from TerraSAR-X stripmap mode data with a 3 m resolution was tested and the quality of the extracted GCPs was evaluated. An inverse-geolocation algorithm was applied to obtain GCPs from TerraSAR-X data. SRTM 90m DEM was used as an auxiliary data set for azimuth time correction of the SAR data. Mean values of the distance errors were 0.11 m and -3.96 m with standard deviations of 6.52 m and 5.11 m in easting and northing, respectively. The result is one of the best among GCPs possibly extracted from current civilian remote sensing systems. The extracted GCPs were used for geo-rectification of an IKONOS image, which demonstrated the applicability of the GCPs to geo-rectification of high resolution optic image. The method used in this study can be applied to KOMPSAT-5 for geo-rectification of high-resolution optic images acquired by KOMPSAT-2 or follow-up missions.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.1258-1270
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• 2000

A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system is able to provide all-weather, day-and-night, high resolution imaging capability in the wide area of interest, and thus is extremely useful in surveillance for both civil and military applications. In this paper, the X-band high-resolution spaceborne SAR system design is described with the key design parameters for the mission and system requirement characterized by the small satellite platform. The SAR imaging mode design technique is presented, and the standard imaging mode design results are analyzed with respect to image quality performance. In line with the system requirement, X-band SAR payload and ground reception/processing subsystems are designed and the key design results are demonstrated with the outstanding performance characteristics. The designed small satellite SAR system shows the wide range of imaging capability, and proves to be an effective surveillance systems in the light weight, high performance and cost-effective points of view.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.138-141
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• 2007

The permanent scatterer SAR interferometry (PSInSAR) technique has been developed more recently and has been applied to monitor slow but consistent ground subsidence. Since PSInSAR has the advantages in terms of baseline and temporal decorrelation, PSInSAR technique using X-band may also provide useful information about a ground deformation in detail. We developed our codes for a persistent scatterer analysis, and then apply to ERS-1/2 C-band data over Las Vegas in order to validate our new developed algorithm. Based on this test, PS technique using X-band observation such as TerraSAR-X or KOMSAT 5 will be developed.