Boreal forest height estimation with SAR interferometry and laser measurements

In this paper we summarize the results of FINSAR campaign, which was arranged to evaluate X- and L-band SAR interferometric and polarimetric SAR techniques for Boreal forest. The main emphasis of the work was on L-band polarimetric interferometry and forest height estimation. Also X-band interferometry and coherence tomography for X- and L-band, phase center height, extinction coefficient of forest and several other aspects of polarimetric interferometry were studied with help of ancillary measurements. Our results show that L-band polarimetric SAR interferometry can estimate well Boreal forest height. Also X-band interferometry shows good potential in height estimation. When accurate ground model is available, tree height can be estimated even by using one polarization interferometry. SAR appears to be more accurate in forest height measurement than forest inventory database, but not as accurate as laser measurement.