Change Detection with Compact Polarimetric SAR for Monitoring Wetlands

Compact polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) architecture is an SAR configuration that consists of transmitting a single circular polarization (left or right) or a 45 degrees oriented linear signal while receiving two linear polarizations, horizontal and vertical. In this study we investigate the potential of the compact polarimetric SAR mode for wetland monitoring applications. Whitewater Lake located in Manitoba, Canada, is selected as a case study where simulated compact polarimetric SAR data are obtained using RADARSAT-2 Fine Quad-POL SAR images. The ability of the compact polarimetric data to monitor wetlands using the Wishart-Chernoff distance is studied and compared to the results obtained using fully polarimetric data. Results of this study show that compact polarimetry provides monitoring capabilities for wetlands. Promising change detection mapping results based on the compact polarimetric coherency matrices are obtained using the Wishart-Chernoff distance. This could be useful for flagging change in the wetland environment for further evaluation and action if required. The compact polarimetry mode could be an attractive configuration for future SAR systems due to the combination of swath coverage, moderate resolution, and enhanced information content for monitoring changes in surface water and flooded vegetation.