The stability of polarimetric features for target classification from SAR imagery

This study investigates the information content of polarimetric SAR imagery for use within automatic target detection and classification algorithms. Key questions such as the stability of polarimetric information and its relationship with image resolution are addressed. Using relatively simple polarimetric features, such as the percentage of pure odd and even bounce scattering events, we show how it is possible to identify the differences between two classes of military vehicle. The use of the radial power spectral density is proposed as a measure of the spatial distribution of these odd and even bounce scattering events, again enabling the two classes to be distinguished.