Backscattering analysis of offshore platforms in gulf of Mexico via multi-polarization TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X data

Abstract

Satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been proven to be an effective tool for maritime safety and security. In this framework, monitoring oil and gas offshore platforms is a key topic taken into account the high risk of accident, e.g. exposed to extreme weather conditions, and the potential threats to the environment, e.g. release of polluting material into the ocean. In this study, offshore platform monitoring is discussed using multi-polarization X-band SAR imagery. For operational purposes, the analysis is undertaken using a data set of dual-polarization TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (TS-X/TD-X) imagery collected over a test site in Gulf of Mexico at low and high incidence angles. Additionally, experimental Dual Receive Antenna (DRA) bistatic quad-polarization TD-X data will be used for a more in depth analysis of the backscattering properties and detection performance of different target polarimetric detectors. The motivation behind this work is the observation that, under low incidence angle and moderate wind conditions, co-polarized channels may fail in detecting offshore platforms even when fine-resolution imagery is considered. The multi-temporal dataset allows investigating the possible causes of this unexpected behavior and to draw some conclusions on the target's backscattering depending on polarization, resolution and incidence angle.