Title :
High resolution boreal forest LAI maps using dual polarization SAR images
Author :
Manninen, Terhikki
Author_Institution :
Finnish Meteorol. Inst., Helsinki, Finland
Abstract :
A method for a leaf area index (LAI) map retrieval based on VV/HH polarization SAR images is presented for boreal forest. LAI estimation is carried out by non-local averaging and a previously derived relationship between LAI and the VV/HH backscattering ratio. When prior information of pixel order with respect to LAI magnitude is available, the microwave based LAI map obtained by non-local averaging is very similar to a corresponding optical image based LAI map. Finding an optimal method for pixel order determination without prior information is still a question of further research, but the first results using simple approaches are promising.
Keywords :
backscatter; geophysical image processing; image resolution; radar imaging; radar polarimetry; synthetic aperture radar; vegetation; vegetation mapping; HH polarization SAR image; LAI estimation; LAI magnitude; LAI map retrieval; VV polarization SAR image; VV/HH backscattering ratio; dual polarization SAR image; high resolution boreal forest LAI map; leaf area index; microwave based LAI map; nonlocal averaging; optical image based LAI map; pixel order determination; prior information; Backscatter; Estimation; Indexes; Optical imaging; Spatial resolution; Synthetic aperture radar; Albedo; airborne; boreal forest; leaf area index; radiation;
Conference_Titel :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 2012 IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Munich
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4673-1160-1
Electronic_ISBN :
2153-6996
DOI :
10.1109/IGARSS.2012.6351203
