Modeling and Interpretation of Scattering Mechanisms in Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar: Advances and perspectives

Abstract

P olarimetric target decomposition is a powerful technique to interpret scattering mechanisms in polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data. Eigenvalueeigenvector-based and model-based methods are two main categories within the incoherent decomposition techniques. Eigenvalue-eigenvector-based decomposition becomes relatively mature since it has a clearer mathematical background and has only one decomposition solution. In contrast, model-based decompositions can obtain different decomposition solutions in terms of various scattering models. Meanwhile, conventional methods with models or assumptions that do not fit the observations may induce deficiencies. Thereby, the development of effective model-based decompositions has received considerable attention and many advances have been reported. This article aims to provide a review for these notable advances, mainly including the incorporation of orientation compensation processing, nonnegative eigenvalue constraint, generalized scattering models, complete information utilization, full-parameter inversion schemes, and fusion of polarimetry and interferometry. Airborne

A Modified General Polarimetric Model-Based Decomposition Method With the Simplified Neumann Volume Scattering Model

“…In past decades, this technique has been widely used in many different applications, such as land-cover classification, target detection, damage assessment, and soil moisture estimation [4]. Target decomposition mainly includes two categories: coherent decomposition of the measured Sinclair matrix, and incoherent decomposition of the measured coherency/covariance matrix [1]- [4]. Because of the diversity of scattering models and parameter inversion algorithms, model-based decomposition is a very active research line in the incoherent decomposition topic [4].…”

“…Target decomposition mainly includes two categories: coherent decomposition of the measured Sinclair matrix, and incoherent decomposition of the measured coherency/covariance matrix [1]- [4]. Because of the diversity of scattering models and parameter inversion algorithms, model-based decomposition is a very active research line in the incoherent decomposition topic [4]. The general idea of any model-based decomposition is to fit some simple physically-based scattering models to the observations.…”

On the Use of Generalized Volume Scattering Models for the Improvement of General Polarimetric Model-Based Decomposition

“…Understanding of polarimetric scattering mechanisms is the bridge between the polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) measurements and both qualitative and quantitative retrieval of parameters describing physical processes on land cover [1]. According to the different ways an electromagnetic way can interact with vegetated and/or artificial targets it becomes necessary to have available mathematical and/or physical models which account for both geometrical and electromagnetic properties of matter.…”

“…As known, polarimetric target decompositions are grouped into two main categories, i.e., Sinclair matrix-based coherent approaches and coherency/covariance matrix-based incoherent ones [2]. Eigenvalue-eigenvector-based and model-based methods are two major groups belonging to incoherent decompositions [1,2]. Two comprehensive reviews of this group of techniques can be found in [1,2].…”

“…Eigenvalue-eigenvector-based and model-based methods are two major groups belonging to incoherent decompositions [1,2]. Two comprehensive reviews of this group of techniques can be found in [1,2]. The decomposition results have been used for a number of applications, such as target detection [3][4][5], land cover classification [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], and geophysical parameter inversion [14][15][16].…”