E-SAR Data Formats

E-SAR, “Experimental-SAR”, is an airborne imaging radar (Synthetic Aperture Radar) sensor formerly operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Microwaves and Radar Institute (HR) from 1988 until November 2009.

Center Frequencies

It is operated on a Dornier Do-228 aircraft in 3000 to 6000 m above ground in five different center frequencies (X, C, L, P1, P2), wavelengths of 3 cm, 5 cm,
23 cm and 85 cm, two of them in P band. Different center frequencies are operated sequentially (not simultaneously) in overflights. Data are acquired either in one-channel, two-channel or four-channel mode in HH, HV, VV and/or VH polarization. Fully polarimetric data are acquired in L and P band only.

Interferometry

Repeat-pass interferometry is available in L and P band. Single-pass interferometry is available in X band (ATI and/or XTI) only.

Products

Data are processed up to two different levels: RGI (Radar Geometry Image product) and GTC (Geocoded and Terrain-Corrected product).

Resolution

Resolutions range from 25 cm (X band) to 1.5 m (P band) in azimuth direction and from 1.8 m (X band) to 3 m (P band) in range direction.

Modes

Data acquisition modes are typically “stripmap”, “repeat-pass” (two parallel tracks) or “tomography” (several parallel tracks) or can be individually planned experiments.

Data Format

A brief description of E-SAR data formats can be downloaded here.