Optimizing flood mapping using multi-synthetic aperture radar images for regions of the lower mekong basin in Vietnam

One major characteristic of floods is flood extent. Information on this characteristic is indispensable for flood monitoring. Recently, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data have been increasing in quality and quantity. This allows more flood studies conducted over large areas regardless of cloud and weather conditions and provides advantages including clear surface water classification based on SAR scattering mechanisms for low values (open water) and high values (inundated vegetation, etc.). However, challenges remain due to sources of uncertainties, such as atmospheric disturbances and vegetation masking parts of water surfaces. Therefore, in this study, we aim to optimize flood mapping processes on flooded vegetation that generated high-value pixels based on a SAR scattering mechanism called double bounce that classifies vegetative flooded water in L-band SAR images. This optimization is nearly impossible using Sentinel-1 scenes. Backscattering of time-series Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 images acquired for the 2018 and 2019 flood season was analysed, thresholded and hybridized for flood mapping of a study site in the Tam Nong district of the Dong Thap Province of Vietnam. We found that the accuracy of SAR flood maps was improved compared to ground truth data when the SAR-extracted vegetative-flooded plains were considered flooded.

Automated summary

One major characteristic of floods is flood extent, and synthetic aperture radar data have advantages in flood monitoring and studies.