Retrieval of man-made structures in Siberia with INSAR techniques using ERS-SAR data

The potential of the interferometric correlation (coherence) is investigated for the mapping and monitoring of man-made structures in the Nadym region, Siberia. The area is located in the West Siberian Lowlands and most of the region is underlaid by discontinuous permafrost. Man-made structures such as pipelines are undergoing yearly heave displacements by thawing and freezing of the active permafrost layer. The dimension of the displacement varies depending on the underground and surface cover. Man-made structures are embedded in a mosaic of boreal forest, bogs, rivers, small tundra lakes and tundra which impedes their detection. ERS SAR data acquired during the ERS-1/ERS-2 tandem mission have been used for interferometric processing. The coherence information, along with intensity and intensity change information, is demonstrated to be useful for the detection of man-made structures in varying environments.