Hydraulic and event knowledge to reduce the positional uncertainty in SAR flood images for improved flood model calibration and development

Guy Schumann, Andrew Black, Mark Cutler, Jean Baptiste Henry, Lucien Hoffmann, Patrick Matgen, Laurent Pfister

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In an attempt to reduce the positional uncertainty in SAR images depicting floods and lakes, thereby largely improving the spatial accuracy of SAR-derived maps, this paper presents a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation-like image shifting procedure that shifts the X and Y coordinates of a SAR image until an acceptable minimum absolute error in elevation between the left and right flood extent level is found, whilst assuming a horizontal water surface on river cross sections. Independent Check Points (ICPs) indicating flood positions at bridges and elevated roads and railways are integrated with the MC-based procedure to provide direct validation of the image shifts. The proposed method, which requires hydraulic as well as event knowledge, greatly improves the positional accuracy of SAR-derived flood maps and thus presents an inviting alternative to adjust the initial inaccurate geo-referencing often encountered with SAR images. The importance of applying the proposed method is illustrated by applying it to a flood inundation model calibration procedure using a SAR-derived flood extent.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of ACCURACY 2006 - 7th International Symposium on Spatial Accuracy Assessment in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
    EditorsMarco Painho, Mario Caetano
    PublisherInstituto Geografica Portugues
    Pages633-642
    Number of pages10
    ISBN (Electronic)9728867271, 9789728867270
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2006
    Event7th International Symposium on Spatial Accuracy Assessment in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, ACCURACY 2006 - Lisbon, Portugal
    Duration: 5 Jul 20067 Jul 2006

    Conference

    Conference7th International Symposium on Spatial Accuracy Assessment in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, ACCURACY 2006
    Country/TerritoryPortugal
    CityLisbon
    Period5/07/067/07/06

    Keywords

    • Flood inundation model calibration
    • Geometric correction
    • Monte Carlo Simulation
    • Positional uncertainty
    • SAR flood imagery

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Geography, Planning and Development
    • General Environmental Science
    • Modelling and Simulation

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