The aim of this thesis is to determine to what extent aircraft-borne radar remote sensing can be used as the sole method for making recordings of the surface of the earth as a basis for compiling topographical and relief maps of mountainous areas. This is done using three test areas: the Edelsberg area in the Allgäu Alps and the Silvretta and Verwall Groups in the Central Alps. The basis for discussion is provided by examination of the interaction between the objects to be imaged and the radar signal, the sensor-specific characteristics thereby being taken into account. Following this some data processing and conditioning methods used for extracting information on the relief and surface coverage for preparation of cartographical products are presented. Analysis of the quality of the results shows that, measured against the requirements of mountain cartography, radar remote sensing is a practical and useful tool for making maps in Alpine regions. As the sole source of information, however, aircraft-borne radar remote sensing p roves to date to be inadequate for cartographical applications in high-mountain regions. / Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist, festzustellen, inwieweit die flugzeuggetragene Radarfernerkundung als alleinige Erfassungsmethode der Erdoberfläche zur Erstellung von topographischen und reliefbeschreibenden Karten in Gebirgslandschaften dienen kann. Dies wird anhand von drei Testgebieten, dem Edelsberggebiet in den Allgäuer Alpen sowie der Silvretta- und Verwallgrupe in den Zentralalpen, untersucht. Die Betrachtung der Interaktion zwischen den abzubildenden Objekten und dem Radar-Signal unter Berücksichtigung der sensorspezifischen Charakteristika bildet dabei die Diskussionsgrundlage. Im weiteren werden Methoden zur Datenprozessierung und -aufbereitung vorgestellt, die eine Informa-tionsextraktion bezüglich des Reliefs und der Oberflächenbedeckung für die Erstellung kartographischer Produkte ermöglichen. Die Qualitätsanalyse der Ergebnisse zeigt, dass die Radarfernerkundung, gemessen an den Anforderungen der Gebirgskartographie, ein sinnvolles und nutzbringendes Werkzeug für die Kartenerstellung in alpinen Regionen ist. Für kartographische Anwendungen in Hochgebirgsregionen erweist sich die flugzeuggetragene Radarfernerkundung als einzige Informationsquelle bislang allerdings als nicht ausreichend.

La création d’inventaires de glissements de terrain sert de base à l’évaluation quantitative de l’aléa et à la gestion du risque. Les cartes d’inventaires de mouvements gravitaires sont produites en utilisant des méthodes conventionnelles (campagnes de mesures de terrain, interprétation visuelle de photographies aériennes) et par des techniques de télédétection plus innovantes. Une des techniques les plus prometteuses pour la détection et la cartographie des glissements de terrain fait appel à la mesure de la déformation du sol par interférométrie radar satellitaire (InSAR). Cette thèse est consacrée à la constitution d’un inventaire multi-dates à partir de données multi-sources (incluant les données InSAR) en vue d’évaluer de façon quantitative l’aléa glissement de terrain. Les méthodes associent l’analyse de produits d’Observation de la Terre et des modélisations statistiques pour la caractérisation de l’aléa dans la vallée de l’Ubaye, une région rurale et montagneuse des Alpes du Sud. Elles ont été développées à l’échelle du versant (1:5.000-1:2.000) et à l’échelle régionale (1:25.000- 1:10.000). Pour la création des inventaires, cette étude propose une interprétation combinée de séries temporelles d’images SAR, de photographies aériennes, de cartes géomorphologiques, de rapports historiques et de campagnes de terrain. A l’échelle locale, une méthodologie d'interprétation guidée par la géomorphologie et utilisant l’InSAR a été proposée pour identifier les champs de déplacement des glissements de terrain et mesurer leur évolution. A l’échelle régionale, la distribution spatio-temporelle des glissements de terrain a été caractérisée et l’aléa a été calculé à partir des probabilités d’occurrence spatiale et temporelle pour une intensité donnée des phénomènes. L’occurrence spatiale est estimée grâce à un modèle multivarié (régression logistique). L’occurrence temporelle des mouvements gravitaires est évaluée grâce à un modèle de probabilité de Poisson permettant de calculer la probabilité de dépassement (incluant ou non un seuil de surface) pour plusieurs périodes de retour. Plusieurs unités d'analyse spatiale ont été utilisées pour la modélisation ; les résultats démontrent clairement leur influence sur les résultats. L’analyse de l’aléa a été réalisée sur quelques cas spécifiques. Des relations entre les (ré)activations de glissements de terrain et les facteurs déclenchants sont proposées. / The analysis of landslide inventories is the basis for quantitative hazard assessment. Landslide inventory maps are prepared using conventional methods (field surveys, visual interpretation of aerial photographs) and new remote sensing techniques. One of the most promising techniques for landslide detection and mapping is related to the measurement of the ground deformation by satellite radar interferometry (InSAR).This doctoral thesis is dedicated to the preparation of a multi-date inventory, from multi-source data, including InSAR, for a quantitative assessment of landslide hazard. The methods associate the analysis of Earth Observation products and statistical modelling for the characterization of landslide hazard in a rural and mountainous region of the South French Alps. They have been developed at the slope (1:5000-1:2000) and the regional (1:25.000-1:10.000) scales. For the creation of a multi-date inventory, this study developed a combined interpretation of time series of SAR images, aerial photographs, geomorphological maps, historical reports and field surveys. At the slope-scale, a geomorphologically-guided methodology using InSAR was proposed to identify landslide displacement patterns and measure their kinematic evolution. At regional scale, spatio-temporal distribution of landslides is characterised and hazard is assessed by computing spatial and temporal probabilities of occurrence for a given intensity of the phenomena. The spatial occurrence is evaluated using a multivariate model (logistic regression). The temporal occurrence of landslide is estimated with a Poisson probability model to compute exceedance probabilities for several return periods. Different mapping units were used in the modelling, and their influence on the results is discussed. Analysis of landslide hazard is then proposed for some particular hotspots. Relationships between landslide (re)activations and triggering factors are envisaged.

This thesis presents a body of work on the theme of millimetre-wave FMCW radar, for the purposes of security screening and remote sensing. First, the development of an optimised software radar signal processor will be outlined. Through use of threading and GPU acceleration, high data processing rates were achieved using standard PC hardware. The flexibility of this approach, compared to specialised hardware (e.g. DSP, FPGA etc…), allowed the processor to be rapidly adapted and has produced a significant performance increase in a number of advanced real-time radar systems. An efficient tracker was developed and was successfully deployed in live trials for the purpose of real-time wave detection in an autonomous boat control system. Automated radar operation and remote data telemetry functions were implemented in a terrain mapping radar to allow continuous monitoring of the Soufrière Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. This work concluded with the installation of the system 3 km from the volcano. Hardware modifications were made to enable coherent measurement in a number of existing radar systems, allowing phase sensitive measurements, including range-Doppler, to be performed. Sensitivity to displacements of less than 200 nm was demonstrated, which is limited by the phase noise of the system. Efficient compensation techniques are presented which correct for quadrature mixer imbalance, FMCW chirp non-linearity, and scanner drive distortions. In collaboration with the Home Office, two radar systems were evaluated for the stand-off detection of concealed objects. Automatic detection capability, based on polarimetric signatures, was developed using data gathered under controlled conditions. Algorithm performance was assessed through blind testing across a statistically significant number of subjects. A detailed analysis is presented, which evaluates the effect of clothing and object type on detection efficiency.

The aim of this thesis is to determine to what extent aircraft-borne radar remote sensing can be used as the sole method for making recordings of the surface of the earth as a basis for compiling topographical and relief maps of mountainous areas. This is done using three test areas: the Edelsberg area in the Allgäu Alps and the Silvretta and Verwall Groups in the Central Alps. The basis for discussion is provided by examination of the interaction between the objects to be imaged and the radar signal, the sensor-specific characteristics thereby being taken into account. Following this some data processing and conditioning methods used for extracting information on the relief and surface coverage for preparation of cartographical products are presented. Analysis of the quality of the results shows that, measured against the requirements of mountain cartography, radar remote sensing is a practical and useful tool for making maps in Alpine regions. As the sole source of information, however, aircraft-borne radar remote sensing p roves to date to be inadequate for cartographical applications in high-mountain regions. / Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist, festzustellen, inwieweit die flugzeuggetragene Radarfernerkundung als alleinige Erfassungsmethode der Erdoberfläche zur Erstellung von topographischen und reliefbeschreibenden Karten in Gebirgslandschaften dienen kann. Dies wird anhand von drei Testgebieten, dem Edelsberggebiet in den Allgäuer Alpen sowie der Silvretta- und Verwallgrupe in den Zentralalpen, untersucht. Die Betrachtung der Interaktion zwischen den abzubildenden Objekten und dem Radar-Signal unter Berücksichtigung der sensorspezifischen Charakteristika bildet dabei die Diskussionsgrundlage. Im weiteren werden Methoden zur Datenprozessierung und -aufbereitung vorgestellt, die eine Informa-tionsextraktion bezüglich des Reliefs und der Oberflächenbedeckung für die Erstellung kartographischer Produkte ermöglichen. Die Qualitätsanalyse der Ergebnisse zeigt, dass die Radarfernerkundung, gemessen an den Anforderungen der Gebirgskartographie, ein sinnvolles und nutzbringendes Werkzeug für die Kartenerstellung in alpinen Regionen ist. Für kartographische Anwendungen in Hochgebirgsregionen erweist sich die flugzeuggetragene Radarfernerkundung als einzige Informationsquelle bislang allerdings als nicht ausreichend.