Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR)has become one of the important tools for shallow water bathymetry surveys.This has significant economic efficiency compared with the traditional bathymetry surveys.Numerical models have been developed to simulate shallow water bathymetry SAR images.Inversion of these models makes it possible to assess the water depths from SAR images.In this paper,these numerical models of SAR technique are reviewed,and examples are illustrated including in the coastal areas of China.Some issues about SAR technique available and the research orientation in future are also discussed.