Convert SAR Units (Image Analyst)

Available with Image Analyst license.

Summary

Converts the scaling of the input synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data between amplitude and intensity, between linear and decibels (dB), and between complex and intensity.

Usage

• This tool simplifies SAR product interpretation and improves image display by reducing the range of amplitude or intensity values through the conversion to a dB value.

• You can also convert data from amplitude to intensity and vice versa.

• You can convert complex data to intensity data; however, you cannot convert intensity data back to complex data since the phase information is no longer available.

• This tool does not support a geodatabase as an output location.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Radar Data	The input radar data.	Raster Dataset; Raster Layer
Output Radar Data	The converted radar dataset.	Raster Dataset
Conversion Type (Optional)	Specifies the type of backscatter conversion that will be applied. Linear to dB—The unitless values will be converted to dB values. This is the default. dB to linear—The dB values will be converted to unitless values. Amplitude to intensity—The amplitude values will be converted to intensity values by squaring the amplitude. Intensity to amplitude—The intensity values will be converted to amplitude values by applying the square root to the intensity. Complex to intensity— The complex values will be converted to intensity values by adding the square of the real and imaginary components.	String

Python

ConvertSARUnits(in_radar_data, out_radar_data, {conversion_type})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_radar_data	The input radar data.	Raster Dataset; Raster Layer
out_radar_data	The converted radar dataset.	Raster Dataset
conversion_type (Optional)	Specifies the type of backscatter conversion that will be applied. LINEAR_TO_DB—The unitless values will be converted to dB values. This is the default. DB_TO_LINEAR—The dB values will be converted to unitless values. AMPLITUDE_TO_INTENSITY—The amplitude values will be converted to intensity values by squaring the amplitude. INTENSITY_TO_AMPLITUDE—The intensity values will be converted to amplitude values by applying the square root to the intensity. COMPLEX_TO_INTENSITY— The complex values will be converted to intensity values by adding the square of the real and imaginary components.	String

Code sample

ConvertSARUnits example 1 (Python window)

This example converts unitless values to decibels.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:\Data\SAR"
outRadar = arcpy.ia.ConvertSARUnits(
     "IW_manifest_TNR_CalB0_Dspk_RTFG0_GTC.crf", "LINEAR_TO_DB")
outRadar.save("IW_manifest_TNR_CalB0_Dspk_RTFG0_GTC_dB.crf")

ConvertSARUnits example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example converts unitless values to decibels.

# Import system modules and check out ArcGIS Image Analyst extension license
import arcpy
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("ImageAnalyst")
from arcpy.ia import *

# Set local variables
in_radar = r"C:\Data\SAR\IW_manifest_TNR_CalB0_Dspk_RTFG0_GTC.crf"
out_radar = r"C:\Data\SAR\IW_manifest_TNR_CalB0_Dspk_RTFG0_GTC_dB.crf"
conversion_type = "LINEAR_TO_DB"

# Execute 
outRadar = arcpy.ia.ConvertSARUnits(in_radar, conversion_type)
outRadar.save(out_radar)

Environments

Cell Alignment, Cell Size, Compression, Current Workspace, Extent, Geographic Transformations, NoData, Output Coordinate System, Parallel Processing Factor, Pyramid, Raster Statistics, Resampling Method, Scratch Workspace, Snap Raster, Tile Size