Polarimetric tomography for forest parameters retrieval

This paper addresses the estimation of tropical forest parameters using polarimetric and tomographic SAR data. A new methodology based on an MB-Generalization of the Random-Volume-over-Ground (RVoG) model is introduced. This methodology consists in estimating forest height, its underlying ground topography and canopy vertical structure, after separation of the ground and volume contributions. Ground and volume separation is made using the Sum of Kronecker Product (SKP) decomposition method. Furthermore, a physical interpretation of the SKP decomposition solutions is provided. The proposed techniques are applied to P-Band MB-PolInSAR data acquired during the TropiSAR campaign over the test site of Paracou in French Guiana.