Preparing a new data set for earthquake damage detection in SAR imagery: The Christchurch example I

As the introducing first part of this paper, the data set of Christchurch, New Zealand, is outlined with regard to its purpose: the detection of earthquake damages. The aim is to produce simulated SAR images that are realistic enough to function successfully as pre-event images in a change detection effort. To this end, some modifications to the input 3D city model are introduced and discussed. This includes the use of a GIS map, for a realistic modelling of the radiometric variety, and the insertion of high vegetation to the model, so as to achieve a realistic occlusion of building corners. A detailed description of the impact, these modifications have on the simulation, is given and a comparison between the simulations and corresponding real data is drawn.

As the introducing first part of this paper, the data set of Christchurch, New Zealand, is outlined with regard to its pur-pose: the detection of earthquake damages. The aim is to produce simulated SAR images that are realistic enough to function successfully as pre-event images in a change detection effort. To this end, some modifications to the input 3D city model are introduced and discussed. This includes the use of a GIS map, for a realistic modelling of the radiometric variety, and the insertion of high vegetation to the model, so as to achieve a realistic occlusion of building corners. A detailed description of the impact, these modifications have on the simulation, is given and a comparison between the simulations and corresponding real data is drawn.