Use of PALSAR polarimetric data for tropical forest stratification and comparison of simulated dual and compact polarimetric modes

This paper presents a case study addressing the comparison between different SAR polarimetric mode for tropical forest stratification: Full polarimetry (FP), Dual Polarimetry (DP) and Compact Polarimetry (CP). These 2 latter modes are simulated using FP data acquired by the L band PALSAR sensor over 2 study sites. Cayenne in French Guyana and the Fazenda São Nicolau in Brazil. The classification approach used to evaluate each mode based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm shows the good capabilities of the FP mode to discriminate different kinds of vegetation. The choice of one DP mode that gives twice bigger swath than FP mode depends on the study classes. In this tropical environment the hh/hv existing mode seems to be a good choice and CP mode show a good alternative to all the actual DP modes.