Building detection based on Polarimetric Interferometric Eigenvalue Similarity Parameter

Polarimetric SAR interferometry (PolInSAR) combines SAR polarimetry and SAR interferometry and is much more sensitive to the distribution of orientated scatterers comparing to polarimetric or interferometric data alone. Feature extraction and target detection using Polarimetric SAR interferometry (PolInSAR) images are hot issues of SAR image interpretation and application with much theoretical and applicable significance. Polarimetric Similarity Parameter is an efficient parameter to analyze target characteristics using the similarity between a target and the canonical target. In this paper, the Polarimetric Interferometric Eigenvalue Similarity Parameter (PIESP) is proposed based on the similarity between two polarimetric SAR images obtained by two interferometric antennas to analyze target characteristics. PIESP is defined by the eigenvalues of two polarimetric coherence matrices in PolInSAR system, and PIESP is rotated-invariant. PolInSAR systems use two antennas to measure the same ground area with slightly different image geometry. Thus, PIESP can be used to distinguish target based on coherence and similarity. Then the target detection method using PIESP is implemented with DLR E-SAR L-band full polarized image of the Oberpfaffenhofen test site of Germany, obtained on September 30th, 2000. The results confirmed that the proposed model is accurate and effective for detection and analysis of buildings in urban areas.