SAOCOM-1 sample L-band SAR data can be downloaded from this page:
https://catalogos.conae.gov.ar/catalogo/catalogoSatSaocomAdel_en.html
This page offers SAOCOM-1 L-band SAR data of different processing levels and imaging modes.
| Product Name | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Single Look Complex (SLC) | Level-1A | Complex data in slant range, radiometrically calibrated with no geometric corrections. Generated from Level-0 products |
| Detected Image (DI) | Level-1B | Data projected to ground range, radiometrically calibrated and georeferenced. Generated from Level-0 products |
| Ground Elipsoid Corrected (GEC) | Level-1C | Radiometrically calibrated, geocoded and georeferenced exploiting elipsoid. Generated Level-0 products |
| Ground Terrain Corrected(GTC) | Level-1D | Radiometrically calibrated, geocoded and georeferenced exploiting topography. Generated Level-0 products |
The table above contains important information for the way in which the SAOCOM-1 data can be used for further quantitative and/or qualitative analysis.
Most SAR data acquired from an EO data provider such as ESA or JAXA require certain pre-processing steps. These steps may comprise operations like
- Linking of SAR data set with information of the satellite orbit
- Radiometric calibration
- De-bursting
- Multi-looking
- Speckle filtering
- Radiometric terrain flattening
- Geocoding
- Conversion from linear to logarithmic domain
SAOCOM-1 L-band SAR data of processing level 1B to 1D are already radiometrically calibrated and the processing steps listed above are not necessary. Pixel values for SAOCOM-1 products of processing level 1B to 1C already represent radar backscatter values given in the linear domain.