Evaluation of COSMO/SkyMed SAR data for urban area characterization

In this work we present some preliminary results of a feasibility study about urban applications of the COSMO/SkyMed SAR sensor data. We investigate on the capability of the different imaging modes of the satellites of this constellation to characterize an urban area, using a data set of satellite SAR measurements. We show that medium resolution data (25 m) is indeed sufficient to have a first, rough definition of the urban area, as well as of its principal features, like large roads, and textural characteristics. The latter may be used, for instance, to extract different building density areas.