Potential Uses of ERS-1 SAR Data For The Malaysian Coastal Zone

Abstract

Satellite remote sensing using visible and infrared wavelengths is not very suitable in the tropics because of the cloud cover problem. Radar remote sensing can overcome this problem although it may not possess some of the advantages of sensing in the optical wavelengths. This paper reports on the results of a study that has been carried out under the EC-ASEAN ERS-1 project, subproject MAL-2, to derive coastal zone information from the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data of the ERS-1 satellite over the coastal areas of Terengganu and Sarawak (Malaysia). The PCI EASI/PACE and ErgoVista digital image processing software were used to analyse SAR PRI images. The digital image processing carried out include geo-referencing, filtering and calibration. The University of Texas at Arlington Radiative Transfer Canopy Model (UTA) was used to derive backscatter values expected from different types of dominant vegetation Which were then compared with the backscatter values obtained from the ERS-1 SAR data. In the study, the radar bathymetry model implemented at TNO was used to assess a number of maritime features in the images potentially caused by topography of the sea bottom. The contrast profiles produced by the model were compared to profiles extracted from the ERS-1 images. The ERS-1 data were also processed to obtain ocean wave spectra in order to derive information about ocean wavelength and direction using 2-dimensional Fourier Transform. The study also included visual interpretation of oil slicks, ships, ship wakes and some coastal features such as river outflows and fronts.