A Fast Non-Parametric Algorithm for Coherent Change Detection

Developing algorithms to detect temporal and spatial changes in radar targets is paramount. This paper specifically addresses the temporal change detection aspect, introducing a rapid non-parametric Coherent Change Detection (CCD) algorithm named Fast-Permutational Change Detection (F-PCD). The F-PCD identifies temporal Change Points (CPs) in a radar target by recognizing block structures in the coherence matrix, showing great robustness against non-stationary noise sources that generally affect the performance of the standard approaches. Moreover, the F-PCD is characterized by an accelerated inference process, ensuring efficiency without substantial performance loss. The F-PCD algorithm can be applied to different scenarios, for example, where DEM changes happen, e.g., mining sites, volcano eruptions, and earthquakes. For this reason, an example of the F-PCD application on an active open-pit mining site is presented to validate its effectiveness. Moreover, its generalization capability is demonstrated by a multi frequency-geometry analysis conducted on the same mining site. Finally, fully exploiting the F-PCD outcomes contributes to a broader understanding of temporal changes in SAR data and introduces new perspectives for interpreting InSAR datasets.