Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area

The launch of Sentinel-1 satellite introduces a novel approach for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR). However, its capabilities for topographic mapping are reportedly limited. It is very challenging to create high-quality digital elevation models (DEMs) from InSAR data in mountai...

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Main Authors: Lili Yan, Hongxing Li, Xiaohua Hao, Jian Wang, Zhenliang Yin, Junyan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10740665/
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author Lili Yan
Hongxing Li
Xiaohua Hao
Jian Wang
Zhenliang Yin
Junyan Liu
author_facet Lili Yan
Hongxing Li
Xiaohua Hao
Jian Wang
Zhenliang Yin
Junyan Liu
author_sort Lili Yan
collection DOAJ
description The launch of Sentinel-1 satellite introduces a novel approach for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR). However, its capabilities for topographic mapping are reportedly limited. It is very challenging to create high-quality digital elevation models (DEMs) from InSAR data in mountain area. The main goal of the study was to generate a new high-quality DEM by combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B data with a short temporal baseline and multiple perpendicular baselines from 43 to 143 m. Five DEMs were produced from five interferometric pairs. The five DEMs were fused to generate a more reliable fused DEM. The performance of the new DEMs was evaluated against ICESat-2/ATL06 product and global DEM products (NASADEM, advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) global digital elevation model (GDEM), and advanced land observing satellite ALOS World 3D-30 m). The results showed that all Sentinel-1 DEMs performed better than ASTER GDEM, four of DEMs had higher accuracies than NASADEM. The fused DEM with the vertical error of 9.08 m for steep terrain (slope>20°) revealed higher accuracy than three global DEMs. The accuracy of DEM was related to terrain slope and land cover type. The accuracies of DEMs decreased as slope increased. The DEMs in glacier area revealed higher errors than those in bare rock. Besides, there was no clear relationship between the perpendicular baseline and vertical accuracy of DEM. The interferometric pair with the shortest baseline (43 m) produced the worst quality DEM, while the interferometric pair with slightly shorter baseline (69 m) produced the highest quality DEM. The study revealed the outstanding accuracy of the new DEM product, which is very valuable data for local glacier research.
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spelling doaj-art-411e2dbd85c94511b60bdc681a3eed842025-08-20T02:48:49ZengIEEEIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing1939-14042151-15352025-01-011864265410.1109/JSTARS.2024.348957610740665Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier AreaLili Yan0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1629-685XHongxing Li1https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3340-1509Xiaohua Hao2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4636-979XJian Wang3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1251-6349Zhenliang Yin4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9050-6328Junyan Liu5https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7818-0413Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Heihe Remote Sensing Experimental Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaNational Cryosphere Desert Data Center, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Heihe Remote Sensing Experimental Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Heihe Remote Sensing Experimental Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Ecology and Environment of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, ChinaThe launch of Sentinel-1 satellite introduces a novel approach for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR). However, its capabilities for topographic mapping are reportedly limited. It is very challenging to create high-quality digital elevation models (DEMs) from InSAR data in mountain area. The main goal of the study was to generate a new high-quality DEM by combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B data with a short temporal baseline and multiple perpendicular baselines from 43 to 143 m. Five DEMs were produced from five interferometric pairs. The five DEMs were fused to generate a more reliable fused DEM. The performance of the new DEMs was evaluated against ICESat-2/ATL06 product and global DEM products (NASADEM, advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) global digital elevation model (GDEM), and advanced land observing satellite ALOS World 3D-30 m). The results showed that all Sentinel-1 DEMs performed better than ASTER GDEM, four of DEMs had higher accuracies than NASADEM. The fused DEM with the vertical error of 9.08 m for steep terrain (slope>20°) revealed higher accuracy than three global DEMs. The accuracy of DEM was related to terrain slope and land cover type. The accuracies of DEMs decreased as slope increased. The DEMs in glacier area revealed higher errors than those in bare rock. Besides, there was no clear relationship between the perpendicular baseline and vertical accuracy of DEM. The interferometric pair with the shortest baseline (43 m) produced the worst quality DEM, while the interferometric pair with slightly shorter baseline (69 m) produced the highest quality DEM. The study revealed the outstanding accuracy of the new DEM product, which is very valuable data for local glacier research.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10740665/Digital elevation models (DEMs)ICESat-2perpendicular baselineSentinel-1A/1B (S1A/S1B)terrain parameter
spellingShingle Lili Yan
Hongxing Li
Xiaohua Hao
Jian Wang
Zhenliang Yin
Junyan Liu
Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area
IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
Digital elevation models (DEMs)
ICESat-2
perpendicular baseline
Sentinel-1A/1B (S1A/S1B)
terrain parameter
title Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area
title_full Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area
title_fullStr Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area
title_full_unstemmed Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area
title_short Generation and Assessment of Digital Elevation Models by Combining Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B Data in Mountain Glacier Area
title_sort generation and assessment of digital elevation models by combining sentinel 1a and sentinel 1b data in mountain glacier area
topic Digital elevation models (DEMs)
ICESat-2
perpendicular baseline
Sentinel-1A/1B (S1A/S1B)
terrain parameter
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10740665/
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