Topographic measurements using polarimetric SAR data

A technique using polarimetric SAR has been developed which is capable of directly sensing terrain surface slopes in the along-track (or azimuthal) direction. The method involves measuring the shift in orientation angle of the maximum in the polarimetric signature. The technique has measured slopes and derived elevations for both open and forested terrain. The method of polarization signature decomposition has been employed to identify components of the covariance matrix which produce the shift in the polarimetric peak position. Selected examples of terrain slope/elevation measurements made using both L- and P-band polarimetric SAR data will be given for heavily-forested areas near Freiburg, Germany and in northern California.