Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data

This study developed a novel framework to estimate and visualize soil moisture using KOMPSAT-5 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data in a real-time web-based environment. We investigated two approaches: one combining NDWI derived from KOMPSAT-3A optical data with SAR backscatter, and another relying s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: D. H. Lee, D. W. Chung, S. G. Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-07-01
Series:The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
Online Access:https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-G-2025/885/2025/isprs-archives-XLVIII-G-2025-885-2025.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849421142265167872
author D. H. Lee
D. W. Chung
S. G. Lee
author_facet D. H. Lee
D. W. Chung
S. G. Lee
author_sort D. H. Lee
collection DOAJ
description This study developed a novel framework to estimate and visualize soil moisture using KOMPSAT-5 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data in a real-time web-based environment. We investigated two approaches: one combining NDWI derived from KOMPSAT-3A optical data with SAR backscatter, and another relying solely on the Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) computed from KOMPSAT-5 dual-polarized imagery. Through a modified Water Cloud Model (WCM), we compared the two methods against ground-truth measurements in wheat fields located in the Wimmera region of Australia. Results showed that both NDWI+SAR and RVI+SAR achieved similar levels of accuracy (R2 ranging from 0.6865 to 0.6951), suggesting that a SAR-only approach can be a valid alternative when optical data are unavailable or affected by atmospheric conditions. Our integrated web system further automates tasks such as SAR preprocessing, vegetation index calculation, and map overlay, enabling users to interpret soil moisture trends and dynamic changes over time with minimal effort. Looking ahead, future satellites such as KOMPSAT-6, providing higher resolution and full polarization data, may enhance the performance of SAR-only models. This study thereby demonstrates a scalable and practical solution for soil moisture monitoring and broader agricultural or environmental applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-2ed7b61b95334728a779cddfbf7c049f
institution Kabale University
issn 1682-1750
2194-9034
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
spelling doaj-art-2ed7b61b95334728a779cddfbf7c049f2025-08-20T03:31:33ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences1682-17502194-90342025-07-01XLVIII-G-202588589010.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-G-2025-885-2025Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR DataD. H. Lee0D. W. Chung1S. G. Lee2Satellite Application Division, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaNational Satellite Operation & Application Center, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaSatellite Application Division, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaThis study developed a novel framework to estimate and visualize soil moisture using KOMPSAT-5 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data in a real-time web-based environment. We investigated two approaches: one combining NDWI derived from KOMPSAT-3A optical data with SAR backscatter, and another relying solely on the Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) computed from KOMPSAT-5 dual-polarized imagery. Through a modified Water Cloud Model (WCM), we compared the two methods against ground-truth measurements in wheat fields located in the Wimmera region of Australia. Results showed that both NDWI+SAR and RVI+SAR achieved similar levels of accuracy (R2 ranging from 0.6865 to 0.6951), suggesting that a SAR-only approach can be a valid alternative when optical data are unavailable or affected by atmospheric conditions. Our integrated web system further automates tasks such as SAR preprocessing, vegetation index calculation, and map overlay, enabling users to interpret soil moisture trends and dynamic changes over time with minimal effort. Looking ahead, future satellites such as KOMPSAT-6, providing higher resolution and full polarization data, may enhance the performance of SAR-only models. This study thereby demonstrates a scalable and practical solution for soil moisture monitoring and broader agricultural or environmental applications.https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-G-2025/885/2025/isprs-archives-XLVIII-G-2025-885-2025.pdf
spellingShingle D. H. Lee
D. W. Chung
S. G. Lee
Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data
The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
title Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data
title_full Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data
title_fullStr Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data
title_short Development of a Web-Based Analytical Framework for Soil Moisture Estimation Using Multipolarized SAR Data
title_sort development of a web based analytical framework for soil moisture estimation using multipolarized sar data
url https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-G-2025/885/2025/isprs-archives-XLVIII-G-2025-885-2025.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT dhlee developmentofawebbasedanalyticalframeworkforsoilmoistureestimationusingmultipolarizedsardata
AT dwchung developmentofawebbasedanalyticalframeworkforsoilmoistureestimationusingmultipolarizedsardata
AT sglee developmentofawebbasedanalyticalframeworkforsoilmoistureestimationusingmultipolarizedsardata