Insar datum connection using GNSS-augmented radar transponders

Abstract

InSAR deformation estimates form a 'free network' referred to an arbitrary datum, e.g. by assuming a reference point in the image to be stable. Consequently, the estimates of any measurement point in the image are dependent of these postulations on reference point stability, and the estimates cannot be compared with datasets of other types of measurement (e.g. historical levelling data or sea-level changes). Yet, some applications require 'absolute' InSAR estimates, i.e. expressed in a well-defined terrestrial reference frame (TRF). We achieve this using collocated InSAR and GNSS measurements, achieved by rigidly attaching phase-stable millimetre-precision compact active transponders to permanent GNSS antennas. The InSAR deformation estimates at these transponders are then estimated in a TRF using the GNSS measurements. Consequently, deformation estimates at all other scatterers are now also defined in the same TRF.