Polarimetric Interferometric Experiment Trials for Years 2001 and 2002: Experiment Design Ground Truthing Data Quality and Analysis

摘要

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) theory has several disciplines which includes Polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) and Interferometric SAR (InSAR). Recent research in the past decade has introduced a new method which utilizes both of these disciplines and is called Polarimetric Interferometric SAR (Pol InSAR). Research to date has been focussed on determining forest heights from interferograms constructed from PolSAR data which has been decomposed so that the data can be preferentially weighted with respect to dominant environmental scattering mechanisms associated with a forest. In this way, phase difference interferograms can be constructed utilizing forest foliage scattering and ground interaction near the forest floor information, in order to estimate forest heights. While these applications are of some interest to Department of National Defence (DND) Canada (i.e. Mapping and Charting), the Experimental Trials, documented here, were designed for utilizing both conventional Pol InSAR methods and developing new Pol InSAR methods specifically for military applications. Three Trials collected repeat pass Pol InSAR data for several experiments. The data were collected by Environmental Canada's SAR C/X system which has similar properties to the future RADARSAT 2. Key areas of Pol InSAR research associated with this study include: (1) motion effects and motion detection with PolSAR and Pol InSAR data, and (2) the utilization of propagation models for inversion of military targets such as tall obstructions, maritime vessels, internal and external building attributes. The experiment design and ground truthing are documented here in reference to the objectives. Some preliminary results and comments regarding lessons learned are also documented. This technical memorandum is a companion to another DRDC report which documents a Pol InSAR literature review and DND objectives for the Pol InSAR project experiments, and simulation results.