SNAP
The Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) is an open-sourced software developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the processing & analysis of Earth observation data, especially from the Sentinel missions. It is widely used in the SAR community because it provides an accessible, user-friendly environment for handling radar data.
SNAP includes a dedicated SAR toolbox that allows users to perform tasks such as radiometric calibration, speckle filtering, terrain correction, interferometric processing & polarimetric analysis. The software supports multiple radar missions beyond Sentinel-1, including ICEYE, TerraSAR-X, ALOS, RADARSAT and others. Its modular design with plug-ins & graph-processing frameworks, makes it flexible for both beginners and advanced users.
SNAP has become a standard tool in research, education & industry thanks to its free availability, strong community support & compatibility with other geospatial platforms like QGIS.
Source: ESA / Copernicus, “ESA releases new and improved version of SNAP,” 30 June 2022, Sentinel Online (https://sentinels.copernicus.eu/-/esa-releases-new-and-improved-version-of-snap)
PolSARpro
PolSARpro ( Polarimetric SAR Data Processing & Education Toolbox) is a free & open-sourced software developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the analysis of polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) data. It is used in both research & education for exploring the full potential of SAR polarimetry.
The toolbox provides a complete set of functions for data calibration, speckle filtering, polarimetric decompositions, classification & target analysis. It also supports training & educational modules, making it especially valuable for newcomers who want to learn the principles of polarimetric SAR.
PolSARpro is compatible with data from many SAR missions, including ICEYE, Sentinel-1, RADARSAT-2, TerraSAR-X, ALOS, PALSAR & others, offering standardized framework for polarimetric processing. Its strong combination of practical tools & educational resources has established it as one of the most recognized platforms for PolSAR studies.
Source: PolSARpro v3.0 can import and convert polarimetric data from a range of airborne and spaceborne missions,” PolSARpro / ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/PolSARpro-PolSARpro-v30-can-import-and-convert-polarimetric-data-from-a-range-of_fig1_228646289)
GAMMA Remote Sensing
GAMMA remote sensing offers a comprehensive suite of software tools for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data processing and analysis. The software is widely used in research, industry & operational applications, covering the entire workflow from raw SAR data to advanced geophysical products.
It includes tools for:
- SAR Image focusing calibration
- Interferometric SAR (InSAR) processing for deformation & topography mapping.
- Differential InSAR (DInSAR) & Persistent Scatterer methods for millimeter-scale ground motion detection.
- Polarimetric & Polarimetric - interferometric SAR (PolSAR/PollnSAR) analysis.
- Geocoding & terrain correction to generate map-ready products.
GAMMA is known for its scientific robustness, flexibility & long track record in Earth observation. It is used by space agencies, universities, research institutes & private companies worldwide for applications such as natural hazard monitoring, infrastructure stability, climate research & environmental mapping.
Source: Sentinel-1 Global Coherence, EarthBigData (AWS S3) — Sentinel-1 Global Coherence data (https://catalyst-earth.medium.com/catalyst-earth-data-simplified-4c1feeadea7e)
Catalyst
Catalyst (formerly known as PCI Geomatics) is a commercial software suite designed for remote sensing, photogrammetry & geospatial analysis. It provides powerful tools for processing satellite, aerial, & drone imagery including support for SAR (Synthetic Aperture) data.
Catalyst offers capabilities for image correction, mosaicking, classification, change detection & terrain modeling. For SAR applications, it includes advanced functions such as radiometric calibration, speckle filtering, interferometric SAR (InSAR), polarimetric analysis & ground displacement monitoring.
One of Catalyst's strengths is its ability to handle large datasets efficiently, making it suitable for both operational workflows & research projects. It is widely used in industries such as agriculture, forestry, defense, oil & gas, & environmental monitoring, as well as by government agencies & academic institutions.
By combining high-level automation with customizable workflows, Catalyst supports professionals in transforming raw Earth observation data into actionable insights.
Source: Kevin R. Jones, “CATALYST — Earth Data, Simplified”, Medium (Catalyst Earth) — 9 dicembre 2020 (https://catalyst-earth.medium.com/catalyst-earth-data-simplified-4c1feeadea7e)
SARPROZ
SARPROZ is a specialized software package dedicated to the processing & analysis of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, with a strong focus on interferometric SAR (InSAR) techniques. The software was developed by Daniele Perissin, it's mainly used in both research & professional applications for ground deformation monitoring, infrastructure stability studies & urban mapping.
SARPROZ is known for its user-friendly interface & its ability to handle large stacks of SAR images from different satellite missions such as ICEYE, Sentinel-1, TerraSAR-X, COSMO-SkyMed and others. It provides advanced tools for:
- Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PS-InSAR)
- Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) analysis
- Time-series analysis of deformation
- Atmospheric phase screen estimation and removal
These features make SARPROZ especially useful for applications such as landslide detection, subsidence monitoring, earthquake damage assessment, and infrastructure surveillance (e.g., bridges, buildings and dams.)
What sets SARPROZ apart is its strong integration of geocoding, visualization & parameter estimation, allowing the user to move from raw SAR data to interpretable deformation maps & reports.
Source: SARPROZ, “SARPROZ – The SAR PROcessor”, SARPROZ documentation (PDF) (https://sarproz.com/publish/SARPROZ.pdf)
ENVI SARscape
ENVI SARscape is a commercial software extension for the ENVI geospatial platform, designed specifically for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) processing and analysis. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools for both academic research and professional applications, supporting a wide range of satellite missions including ICEYE, Sentinel-1, RADARSAT, TerraSAR-X, COSMO-SkyMed, and ALOS.
SARscape offers functionalities for SAR image calibration, speckle filtering, geocoding, interferometric SAR (InSAR), polarimetric analysis, change detection, and terrain mapping. Its integration with ENVI allows users to combine SAR data with optical imagery and GIS layers, facilitating multi-source analysis and visualization.
The software is widely used in applications such as infrastructure monitoring, urban planning, disaster assessment, environmental monitoring, and scientific research, providing robust, high-precision outputs for professionals and researchers alike. Its combination of advanced SAR processing and user-friendly interface makes it a standard tool in the Earth observation community.
Source: CHEST, “SAR processing with ENVI SARScape Analytics Online Training – Afternoon Track" (https://www.chest.ac.uk/events/sar-processing-with-envi-sarscape-analytics-online-training-pm/)