Object-oriented crop mapping and monitoring using multi-temporal polarimetric RADARSAT-2 data

The aim of this paper is to assess the accuracy of an object-oriented classification of polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data to map and monitor crops using 19 RADARSAT-2 fine beam polarimetric (FQ) images of an agricultural area in North-eastern Ontario, Canada. Polarimetric images and field data were acquired during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. The classification and field data collection focused on the main crop types grown in the region, which include: wheat, oat, soybean, canola and forage. The polarimetric parameters were extracted with PolSAR analysis using both the Cloude–Pottier and Freeman–Durden decompositions. The object-oriented classification, with a single date of PolSAR data, was able to classify all five crop types with an accuracy of 95% and Kappa of 0.93; a 6% improvement in comparison with linear-polarization only classification. However, the time of acquisition is crucial. The larger biomass crops of canola and soybean were most accurately mapped, whereas the identification of oat and wheat were more variable. The multi-temporal data using the Cloude–Pottier decomposition parameters provided the best classification accuracy compared to the linear polarizations and the Freeman–Durden decomposition parameters. In general, the object-oriented classifications were able to accurately map crop types by reducing the noise inherent in the SAR data. Furthermore, using the crop classification maps we were able to monitor crop growth stage based on a trend analysis of the radar response. Based on field data from canola crops, there was a strong relationship between the phenological growth stage based on the BBCH scale, and the HV backscatter and entropy.     

Full polarimetric PALSAR-based land cover monitoring in Cambodia for implementation of REDD policies

Abstract

Forest cover monitoring plays an important role in the implementation of climate change mitigation policies such as Kyoto protocol and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). In this study, we have monitored land cover using the PALSAR (Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) full polarimetric data based on incoherent target decomposition. Supervised classification technique has been applied on Cloude–Pottier decomposition, Freeman–Durden three component, and Yamaguchi four component decomposition for accurate mapping of different types of land cover classes. Based on confusion matrix derived from the predicted and defined pixels, the evergreen and sparsely deciduous forests have shown high producer's accuracy by Freeman–Durden three component and Yamaguchi four component classifications. The overall accuracy of Maximum Likelihood Classification by Yamaguchi four component is 94.1% with 0.93 kappa coefficient as compared to the 90.3% with 0.88 kappa coefficient by Freeman–Durden three component and 89.7% with 0.88 kappa coefficient by Cloude–Pottier decomposition. High accuracy of classification in a forested area using full polarimetric PALSAR data may have been because of high penetration of L-band SAR. The content of this study could be useful for the forest cover mapping during cloudy days needed for proper implementation of REDD policies in Cambodia.     

Full year crop monitoring and separability assessment with fully-polarimetric L-band UAVSAR: A case study in the Sacramento Valley,California

Spatial and temporal information on plant and soil conditions is needed urgently for monitoring of crop productivity. Remote sensing has been considered as an effective means for crop growth monitoring due to its timely updating and complete coverage. In this paper, we explored the potential of L-band fully-polarimetric Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) data for crop monitoring and classification. The study site was located in the Sacramento Valley, in California where the cropping system is relatively diverse. Full season polarimetric signatures, as well as scattering mechanisms, for several crops, including almond, walnut, alfalfa, winter wheat, corn, sunflower, and tomato, were analyzed with linear polarizations (HH, HV, and VV) and polarimetric decomposition (Cloude–Pottier and Freeman–Durden) parameters, respectively. The separability amongst crop types was assessed across a full calendar year based on both linear polarizations and decomposition parameters. The unique structure-related polarimetric signature of each crop was provided by multitemporal UAVSAR data with a fine temporal resolution. Permanent tree crops (almond and walnut) and alfalfa demonstrated stable radar backscattering values across the growing season, whereas winter wheat and summer crops (corn, sunflower, and tomato) presented drastically different patterns, with rapid increase from the emergence stage to the peak biomass stage, followed by a significant decrease during the senescence stage. In general, the polarimetric signature was heterogeneous during June and October, while homogeneous during March-to-May and July-to-August. The scattering mechanisms depend heavily upon crop type and phenological stage. The primary scattering mechanism for tree crops was volume scattering (>40%), while surface scattering (>40%) dominated for alfalfa and winter wheat, although double-bounce scattering (>30%) was notable for alfalfa during March-to-September. Surface scattering was also dominant (>40%) for summer crops across the growing season except for sunflower and tomato during June and corn during July-to-October when volume scattering (>40%) was the primary scattering mechanism. Crops were better discriminated with decomposition parameters than with linear polarizations, and the greatest separability occurred during the peak biomass stage (July-August). All crop types were completely separable from the others when simultaneously using UAVSAR data spanning the whole growing season. The results demonstrate the feasibility of L-band SAR for crop monitoring and classification, without the need for optical data, and should serve as a guideline for future research.     

Estimation of winter wheat crop growth parameters using time series Sentinel-1A SAR data

In the present study, Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar analysis of time series data at C-band was carried out to estimate the winter wheat crop growth parameters. Five different date images were acquired during January 2015–April 2015 at different growth stages from tillering to ripening in Varanasi district, India. The winter wheat crop parameters, i.e. leaf area index, vegetation water content (VWC), fresh biomass (FB), dry biomass (DB) and plant height (PH) were estimated using random forest regression (RFR), support vector regression (SVR), artificial neural network regression (ANNR) and linear regression (LR) algorithms. The Ground Range Detected products of Interferometric Wide (IW) Swath were used at VV polarization. The three different subplots of 1 m² area were taken for the measurement of crop parameters at every growth stage. In total, 73 samples were taken as the training data-sets and 39 samples were taken as testing data-sets. The highest sensitivity (adj. R^2?=?0.95579) of backscattering with VWC was found using RFR algorithm, whereas the lowest sensitivity (adj. R^2?=?0.66201) was found for the PH using LR algorithm. Overall results indicate more accurate estimation of winter wheat parameters by the RFR algorithm followed by SVR, ANNR and LR algorithms.     

基于Freeman散射熵和各向异性度的极化SAR影像分类算法研究

极化SAR影像中阴影、水体和裸露的耕地3种地物类型有非常相似的极化散射特性,常规基于非相干分解的分类方法难以将其有效地区分。对此,本文引入基于Freeman分解的散射熵Hf和各向异性度Af两个特征参数,并将其用于极化SAR影像分类。首先利用Hf和Af参数将阴影和水体提取出来,然后将其他地物按散射机制分为3大类,并对每一类再次利用Hf和Af参数进行细分,最后通过基于Wishart分布的聚类和迭代分类,得到最终的分类结果。通过利用Radarsat-2在河南登封获取的全极化SAR数据进行试验,表明该算法执行效率高,能够有效地区分阴影、水体和裸露的耕地,并且对其他地物类型也有很好的分类效果。     

Estimation of Above Ground Biomass for Central Indian Deciduous Forests Using ALOS PALSAR L-Band Data

Reliable and accurate estimates of tropical forest above ground biomass (AGB) are important to reduce uncertainties in carbon budgeting. In the present study we estimated AGB of central Indian deciduous forests of Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) state, India, using Advanced Land Observing Satellite – Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (ALOS-PALSAR) L-band data of year 2010 in conjunction with field based AGB estimates using empirical models. Digital numbers of gridded 1?×?1° dual polarization (HH & HV) PALSAR mosaics for the study area were converted to normalized radar cross section (sigma naught - σ⁰). A total of 415 sampling plots (0.1 ha) data collected over the study area during 2009–10 was used in the present study. Plot-level AGB estimates using volume equations representative to the study area were computed using field inventory data. The plot-level AGB estimates were empirically modeled with the PALSAR backscatter information in HH, HV and their ratios from different forest types of the study area. The HV backscatter information showed better relation with field based AGB estimates with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.509 which was used to estimate spatial AGB of the study area. Results suggested a total AGB of 367.4 Mt for forests of M.P. state. Further, validation of the model was carried out using observed vs. predicted AGB estimates, which suggested a root mean square error (RMSE) of ±19.32 t/ha. The model reported robust and defensible relation for observed vs. predicted AGB values of the study area.     

Evaluating SAR polarization modes at L-band for forest classification purposes in Eastern Amazon,Brazil

Single, interferometric dual, and quad-polarization mode data were evaluated for the characterization and classification of seven land use classes in an area with shifting cultivation practices located in the Eastern Amazon (Brazil). The Advanced Land-Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data were acquired during a six month interval. A clear-sky Landsat-5/TM image acquired at the same period was used as additional ground reference and as ancillary input data in the classification scheme. We evaluated backscattering intensity, polarimetric features, interferometric coherence and texture parameters for classification purposes using support vector machines (SVM) and feature selection. Results showed that the forest classes were characterized by low temporal backscattering intensity variability, low coherence and high entropy. Quad polarization mode performed better than dual and single polarizations but overall accuracies remain low and were affected by precipitation events on the date and prior SAR date acquisition. Misclassifications were reduced by integrating Landsat data and an overall accuracy of 85% was attained. The integration of Landsat to both quad and dual polarization modes showed similarity at the 5% significance level. SVM was not affected by SAR dimensionality and feature selection technique reveals that co-polarized channels as well as SAR derived parameters such as Alpha-Entropy decomposition were important ranked features after Landsat’ near-infrared and green bands. We show that in absence of Landsat data, polarimetric features extracted from quad-polarization L-band increase classification accuracies when compared to single and dual polarization alone. We argue that the joint analysis of SAR and their derived parameters with optical data performs even better and thus encourage the further development of joint techniques under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) mechanism.     

Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest Stand Variable Estimation Using SAR Data

Optical remote sensing data have been extensively used to derive biophysical properties that relate forest type and composition. However, stand density, stand height and stand volume cannot be estimated directly from optical remote sensing data owing to poor sensitivity between these parameters and spectral reflectance. The ability of microwave energy to penetrate within forest vegetation makes it possible to extract information on both the crown and trunk components from radar data. The type of polarization employed determines the radar response to the various shapes and orientations of the scattering mechanisms within the canopy or trunk. This study mainly presents experimental results obtained with airborne E-SAR using polarimetric C and L bands over the tropical dry deciduous forest of Chandrapur Forest Division, Maharashtra. A detailed documentation of the relationship between SAR C & L bands backscattering and forest stand variables has been provided in the present study through linear correlation. Linear correlation of the single channel SAR derived estimates with the field measured means show a good correlation between L HV backscattering coefficient with stand volume (r² = 0.71) and L HH backscattering coefficient with stand density (r² = 0.75). The results imply that SAR data has significant potential for stand menstruation in operational forestry.     

Analysis of a microwave backscattering mechanism from a small urban area imaged with SIR-C

We analyzed the Spaceborne Imaging Radar C (SIR-C) imagery of a small urban area to characterize backscattering mechanisms. The results were compared with the building density so that we could relate the polarimetric backscattering characteristics with urban structures. Relative contributions of odd-bounce, double-bounce, and cross-polarized scatterings were evaluated as a function of the building density for small and large incidence angles. Their behaviors were characterized with respect to urban structures at small and large incidence angles.     

Simulation analysis on the relationship between the leaf area index and polarimetric parameters of crops

Abstract

The leaf area index (LAI) is an important parameter to quantitatively describe the structure of vegetation and crops. Uncertainty in the relationship between the LAI and polarimetric parameters is the key problem for LAI estimation from polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (POLSAR) data. However, the existing POLSAR data have difficulties meeting the demand of the aforementioned research. This paper analyses the correlations between the LAI and the polarimetric parameters derived from Cloude and Freeman decompositions using simulated POLSAR data based on a coherent scattering model for maize and wheat. The results show: (1) The POLSAR data at C-band with a large incidence angle (40 degrees) are very suitable for finding the LAI for maize and wheat. (2) For maize there is a strong correlation between the scattering type angle and the LAI at C-band with a large incidence angle, and the coherency entropy, anisotropy, and the power of the double-bounce scattering power component also have significant correlations with the LAI. (3) For wheat at C-band with a high incidence angle, although the correlation coefficient is low, there is still a correlation between the entropy, anisotropy and LAI. Besides, the volume scattering is suitable for extracting the LAI for wheat at X-band.     

利用ESAR极化数据的复杂地形区森林地上生物量估算

利用机载E-SAR传感器获取的P-波段全极化SAR数据与实测林分样地数据,分析不同极化方式后向散射系数在地形起伏区与森林地上生物量（AGB）的响应关系,以改进的水云模型为基础,建立了融入地形因子的分析性模型。采用遗传算法确定模型的最优参数,并对模型在不同坡度情况下的可靠性、稳定性进行分析,同时通过与常用模型相对比,确定水云分析模型在复杂地形区估算AGB的优势。结果表明：在森林AGB处于较低值的情况下,后向散射系数（HH、HV、VV）变化趋势与AGB变化趋势保持一致,但随着AGB值的增大,这种一致性仅在HV极化方式下继续保持,因此相比之下,HV极化方式更适用于复杂地形区生物量的估算。地形对森林AGB的估算具有极大的影响,后向散射系数与AGB的相关性随着地形坡度的增加而减小。5种模型估算森林AGB的能力大小排序为：水云分析模型 > 二次模型 > 对数模型 > 指数模型 > 线性模型。地形起伏较小的地区估算稳定性排序为：水云分析模型 > 二次模型 > 对数模型 > 指数模型>线性模型。地形起伏较大的地区估算稳定性排序为。水云分析模型 > 二次模型 > 线性模型 > 指数模型 > 对数模型。利用水云分析模型对研究区AGB估算,其实测AGB与模型估算的生物量值决定系数为0.597,RMSE为30.876 t/hm²,拟合精度为77.40%。     

层析SAR反演森林垂直结构参数现状及发展趋势

森林垂直结构参数反演是进行森林资源管理、森林蓄积量估算及全球碳循环研究的基础。层析合成孔径雷达TomoSAR(Tomography Synthetic Aperture Radar)是随着InSAR/Pol-InSAR技术的日益发展而产生的,更适用于森林垂直结构参数反演。本文首先介绍了TomoSAR的概念与实现方式:PCT(Polarization Coherence Tomography)、多基线干涉层析SAR MB-InTomoSAR(Multi-baseline Interferometric Tomographic SAR)、多基线极化层析SAR MBPolTomoSAR(Multi-baseline Polarization Tomographic SAR);概括了目前应用TomoSAR技术反演森林垂直结构参数的技术方法与信号模型等;论述了应用TomoSAR技术提取森林垂直结构参数的现状,最后分析了应用TomoSAR技术提取森林垂直结构参数可能的发展方向。     

极化干涉SAR数据地表土地类型分类

基于新疆和田地区1994年10月9日和10日SIR-C-L波段全极化雷达数据。首先对极化干涉测量的基本原理和数据处理流程进行了详细的阐述，接着，用Cloude相干最优算法得到了与3种地物散射机制相对应的3个最优相干图。并且就地物相干性对极化的强烈依赖和3种散射机制中地物的最优相干特性进行了分析，具有最高相干值的相位图在提取DEM方面较有利，具有最低相干值的相干图在地物识别方面较有利。最后，在对最优相干系数。后向散射系数和熵进行数据相关性分析基础上，利用得到的最优相干系数，熵和后向散射系数数据进行了土地类型的识别和分类，得到了很好的效果。     

The potential of linear discriminative Laplacian eigenmaps dimensionality reduction in polarimetric SAR classification for agricultural areas

In this paper, the linear discriminative Laplacian eigenmaps (LDLE) dimensionality reduction (DR) algorithm is introduced to C-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) agricultural classification. A collection of homogenous areas of the same crop class usually presents physical parameter variation, such as the biomass and soil moisture. Furthermore, the local incidence angle also impacts a lot on the same crop category when the vegetation layer is penetrable with C-band radar. We name this phenomenon as the “observed variation of the same category” (OVSC). The most common PolSAR features, e.g., the Freeman–Durden and Cloude–Pottier decompositions, show an inadequate performance with OVSC. In our research, more than 40 coherent and incoherent PolSAR decomposition models are stacked into the high-dimensionality feature cube to describe the various physical parameters. The LDLE algorithm is then performed on the observed feature cube, with the aim of simultaneously pushing the local samples of the same category closer to each other, as well as maximizing the distance between local samples of different categories in the learnt subspace. Finally, the classification result is obtained by nearest neighbor (NN) or Wishart classification in the reduced feature space. In the simulation experiment, eight crop blocks are picked to generate a test patch from the 1991 Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) C-band fully polarimetric data from of Flevoland test site. Locality preserving projections (LPP) and principal component analysis (PCA) are then utilized to evaluate the DR results of the proposed method. The classification results show that LDLE can distinguish the influence of the physical parameters and achieve a 99% overall accuracy, which is better than LPP (97%), PCA (88%), NN (89%), and Wishart (88%). In the real data experiment, the Chinese Hailaer nationalized farm RadarSat2 PolSAR test set is used, and the classification accuracy is around 94%, which is again better than LPP (90%), PCA (88%), NN (89%), and Wishart (85%). Both experiments suggest that the LDLE algorithm is an effective way of relieving the OVSC phenomenon.     

Discrimination of mangrove forests and characterization of adjoining land cover classes using temporal C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data: A case study of Sundarbans

C-band dual polarization (HH, HV) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from Radarsat-2 were used to discriminate and characterize mangrove forests of the Sundarbans. Multi-temporal data acquired during winter and rainy seasons were analysed for the segregation of mangrove forest area. A decision rule based classification involving combination of three-date HH (range −11 to −2 dB) with single-date cross-polarization ratio (2–8) was applied on the datasets for discriminating mangrove forests from other land cover classes. Application of textural measures (entropy and angular second moment) in the aforesaid decision rule based classification produced three broad homogeneous mangrove classes. The area covered by the most homogeneous class increased from January to March and decreased from July to September, and correlated well to the change in the phenological status of the mangroves. Extent of homogeneous areas was more in the eastern region of the Sundarbans than that of the central and western side. Thus, the study revealed that textural measures combined with multi-temporal HH backscatter and single-date cross-polarization ratio in a decision rule classification could be satisfactorily used for characterization of the mangrove forests.     

基于四分量散射模型的多极化SAR图像分类

基于四分量散射模型提出了一种多极化SAR(synthetic aperture radar)图像非监督分类算法。与Freeman三分量散射模型不同,四分量散射模型在Freeman三分量的基础上增加了螺旋散射分量(helix),该分量反映了复杂地貌和不规则城市建筑的散射机理,可以用来处理复杂的场景图像。算法强调了初始分类的重要性,在初始分类中考虑了混合散射机制像素的存在,从而提高了分类结果的精确度。聚类过程中,采用由四个散射分量组成的特征向量进行迭代聚类。为了实现算法的完全非监督,利用特征向量给出了一种新的聚类终止准则。NASA/JPL实验室AIRSAR全极化数据分类实验结果表明,该算法具有较好的分类效果,并获得了较高的分类精度。     

极化雷达目标分解方法用于岩性分类

雷达遥感中地表不同岩石类别的后向散射一般判别不大,因此以散射幅度为主要探测因子常规雷达遥感数据不利于岩性分类。极化雷达以散射矩阵或Ｓｔｏｋｅｓ短阵的形式,记录了更多的地物回波信息。信息源的增多,有利于提高岩性分类的精度。但是,由于不同极化状态回波信号之间的关性,极化数据不可避免地产生数据冗余,反而增大了岩性分类的误差。     

一种结合Freeman分解和散射熵的MRF多极化SAR影像分割算法

针对多极化SAR图像,采用Freeman分解理论,将其分为表面散射、偶次散射、体散射、混合散射4种散射机制,并通过H/Alpha分解提取散射熵,将地物初始分为12类,并运用聚合的层次聚类算法对初始分类结果进行合并。利用Wishart分布对特征场进行建模,用模拟退火优化方法求取基于最大后验准则下的分割结果。     

Snow Cover Area Mapping Using Synthetic Aperture Radar in Manali Watershed of Beas River in the Northwest Himalayas

The current study has used Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data to estimate the Snow Cover Area (SCA) in Manali watershed of Beas River in Northwest Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, India. SAR data used in this study is of Radarsat-2 (RS2) and Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT), Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR). The SAR preprocessing was done with SAR image processing tools for converting raw SAR images into calibrated geo-coded backscatter images. Maps for forest, built area, layover and shadow were created and used for masking snow cover in these areas. The backscattering ratio of wet snow to reference image threshold method with value range from ?2 to ?3 db was used to estimate wet SCA for study area. In this technique, if the threshold is too high (≥-2 db) wet SCA is overestimated and if it is too low (≤-3db), this method underestimates the SCA. The wet SCA is under/over estimated (+6 % to?8 % on average) in late spring season due to the inherent terrain and SAR imaging effects of layover/foreshortening and shadow and also due to the masking of forest areas. Overall, the SCA derived from SAR data matches well when compared with total SCA derived from cloud free optical remote sensing data products, especially during wet season.     

Generalized optimization of polarimetric contrast enhancement

A generalized optimization of polarimetric contrast enhancement (GOPCE) is proposed in this letter. For this problem, it is not only necessary to find the optimal polarization states such that the received power ratio of a desired target and clutter is maximal, but also necessary to find three optimal coefficients such that the ratio of two factors associated with the desired target and clutter is maximal, where both the factors consist of three parameters, i.e., the Cloude entropy and two special similarity parameters. The optimal coefficients of the GOPCE are obtained by solving an eigenvalue problem. Using an example, we demonstrate that the GOPCE can be employed for detecting roads in a forest area by using polarimetric synthetic aperture radar data.