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Adapted from the European Space Agency’s STEP Community Platform


Background

This data recipe is for users who wish to terrain correct CEOS-formatted data granules for legacy platforms including ERS-1, ERS-2, JERS-1, RADARSAT-1, or ALOS PALSAR. Radiometric correction steps using the Ulander algorithm are included. However, the correction is not as accurate as that found in commercial SAR processing products. Note: most ALOS PALSAR data in the ASF archive have been radiometrically terrain-corrected.

Radiometric correction involves removing the misleading influence of topography on backscatter values. Terrain correction is the process of correcting geometric distortions that lead to geolocation errors. The distortions are induced by side-looking (rather than straight-down looking or nadir) imaging, and are compounded by rugged terrain. Terrain correction moves image pixels into the proper spatial relationship with each other. Radiometric terrain correction combines both corrections to produce a more useful product for science applications.

Prerequisites

Materials List:

This image shows Level 1.5 ALOS PALSAR granule of the Klamath Mountains in northern California. © JAXA/METI 2008.

ALPSRP131750800 — Level 1.5 ALOS PALSAR granule showing the Klamath Mountains in northern California. © JAXA/METI 2008.

Steps

Download Data

  1. Create a processing directory to house your data.
  2. Download a CEOS-formatted data granule (Level 1 ERS-1, ERS-2, JERS-1, and RADARSAT-1 — or Level 1.5 ALOS PALSAR) from ASF Vertex and move to your processing directory.
  3. Download a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and move to your processing directory.
  4. Download and install ASF MapReady.

Process the Data

  1. Open ASF MapReady.
  2. Under the Input Files section, ensure the data type is set to CEOS, click Browse and navigate to your working directory.
  3. Double-click on the granule name to load it into MapReady.
This image shows ASF MapReady Input Files section

ASF MapReady Input Files section

Terrain-Correct the Data

  1. At the top of the interface, select the General tab under Select Processing Steps, click Terrain Correct (with Digital Elevation Model), Geocode to a Map Projection, and Export to a Graphics File Format.
  2. Select the Terrain Correction tab, click on Browse next to the DEM File field, navigate to your working directory, and open your downloaded DEM file.
  3. In the same window, check the following boxes:
    • Fill DEM holes with interpolated values
    • Apply Geoid Correction
    • Apply Terrain Correction
    • Perform co-registration (FFT matching)
    • Also apply Radiometric Terrain Correction
    • Interpolate Layover/Shadow Regions.
  4. In the Geocode tab, set the Map Projection of your choice.
  5. In the Export tab, change the Export Format to GeoTIFF (.tif) for a GIS-compatible output.
  6. Finally, set the Destination Folder and click Process All at the bottom of the screen.
This image shows the correct set-up for the General Tab.

Correct set-up for the General Tab.

This image shows the correct set-up for the Terrain Correction tab.

Correct set-up for the Terrain Correction tab.

This image shows the Map Projection tab setup with UTM as the projection

Map Projection tab setup with UTM as the projection

This image shows the Export Tab

Export Tab

This image shows the Destination Folder and Process All in the Input Files section

Destination Folder (blue) and Process All (red) in the Input Files section

Before and After Images

These images show before and after: Before radiometric terrain correction (RTC), Klamath Mountains in northern California appear stretched on one side and compressed on the other (left). RTC (right) moves pixels to unstretch the mountains and adjusts pixel values to subtract the effect of slopes on brightness. Left: © JAXA/METI 2008; right: ASF DAAC 2016; Includes Material © JAXA/METI 2008.

Before and after: Before radiometric terrain correction (RTC), Klamath Mountains in northern California appear stretched on one side and compressed on the other (left). RTC (right) moves pixels to unstretch the mountains and adjusts pixel values to subtract the effect of slopes on brightness. Left: © JAXA/METI 2008; right: ASF DAAC 2016; Includes Material © JAXA/METI 2008.

Details

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Alaska Satellite Facility DAAC (ASF DAAC)