Ground-based polarimetric SAR systems for environment studies

Polarimetric SAR interferometry is a compound technique that has shown an ability to extract geophysical parameters from SAR images and is useful in terrain classification and surface change detection. SAR is a well-known technique for airborne or spaceborne remote sensing. It can usefully be exploited in a ground-based radar imaging system as well. By using radar polarimetry, a ground-based SAR system can be used for monitoring seasonal vegetation changes. We have developed a ground-based polarimetric SAR system for environmental studies. It is based on a vector network analyzer, polarized antennas and a scanning control unit. We describe the ground-based polarimetric SAR system and present some experimental results of monitoring trees with seasonal variation.Zheng-Shu Zhou and Motoyuki Sat