Apply Radiometric Calibration (Image Analyst)

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Available with Image Analyst license.

Summary

Corrects systematic errors in the input synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and transforms radar reflectivity into radar backscatter on a reference plane.

Calibrating SAR imagery is necessary to obtain meaningful backscatter that can be related directly to the surface scattering properties of features in an image over flat terrain.

Usage

  • Use the Beta nought calibration method if you plan to apply terrain flattening using the Apply Radiometric Terrain Flattening tool in your workflow .

  • Use the Gamma nought calibration method if the region of interest (ROI) does not have terrain and spans over tens of kilometers. This will ensure that the calibrated backscatter values are independent of incident angle variations. For a single SAR image, variations in gamma nought values are due to terrain and surface scattering properties.

  • Only use the Sigma nought calibration method if the ROI is small and flat. For a single SAR image, variations in sigma nought values are due to incidence angle, terrain, and surface scattering properties.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Radar Data

The input radar data.

Raster Dataset; Raster Layer
Output Radar Data

The calibrated radar data.

Raster Dataset
Polarization Bands
(Optional)

The polarization bands to be corrected.

The first band is selected by default.

String
Calibration Type
(Optional)

Specifies the type of calibration that will be applied.

  • Beta noughtThe radar reflectivity will be calibrated to backscatter for a unit area on the slant range. This is the default.
  • Sigma nought The backscatter returned will be calibrated to the antenna from a unit area on the ground with the plane locally tangent to the ellipsoid. This is known as the radar cross section. Sigma nought values vary due to incidence angle, wavelength, polarization, terrain, and surface scattering properties.
  • Gamma noughtThe backscatter returned will be calibrated to the antenna from a unit area aligned with the plane perpendicular to the slant range. This normalizes gamma nought using the incidence angle relative to the ellipsoid.Gamma nought values vary due to wavelength, polarization, terrain, and surface scattering properties.
String

Licensing information

  • Basic: Requires Image Analyst
  • Standard: Requires Image Analyst
  • Advanced: Requires Image Analyst

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