Irena Hajnsek

Forest biomass estimation using polarimetric SAR interferometry

Forest biomass is one of the most important and most unknown parameters for accurate global carbon stock modelling. In this paper we address an alternative methodology for estimating above ground forest biomass from radar remote sensing data, based on forest height estimates from single frequency polarimetric-interferometric SAR data.

L- and P-band for surface parameter estimation

This work presents a first qualitative and quantitative comparison of fully polarimetric SAR data at L- and P-band with respect to surface parameter estimation. The potential combination of these two frequencies in order to obtain more robust estimates and/or to extend the validity range of the inversion algorithms is investigated based on experimental data acquired by DLRs airborne SAR system.

Pol-InSAR Results from ALOS-PalSAR

The launch of JAXAs ALOS in January 2006 provides - for the fist time since the SIR-C/X-SAR missions in the 80s - the opportunity to acquire Pol-InSAR data from space. Indeed, PalSAR (i.e. the SAR instrument onboard of ALOS) is able to operate in a quad-pol mode - declared by JAXA as an experimental mode - that allows the acquisition of Pol-InSAR data in a repeat- pass mode. In this sense, ALOS-PalSAR allows the application, validation and development of Pol-InSAR inversion techniques on a much wider range of sites distributed world-wide and accessible to a much wider scientific user community than possible with airborne sensors. In this paper we present the analysis of fully- and/or dual-polarimetric and interferometric data sets acquired by ALOS/PalSAR during its CAL-VAL and operational data acquisition phase and discuss the potential and the limitations for different polarimetric interferometric applications. More developed applications as forest height estimation from single- and multi-baseline Pol-InSAR ALOS-PalSAR data inversion - addressed in the frame of JAXAs Karbon & Kyoto initiative - as well as novel applications regarding soherent scatterers detection and interpretation in urban environments are discussed. The impact of critical mission and operation design parameters as spatial coverage, repeat-pass time, observation scenario, and orbit control are evaluated and discussed.