Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass

The penetration capability of electromagnetic wave signal into forest increases with increasing wavelength. SAR data at each frequency senses different components of forest structure. Therefore the biomass distributed at various tree components could be estimated using different radar frequencies. A...

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Main Authors: Yongjie Ji, Fuxiang Zhang, Wangfei Zhang, Lei Zhao, Kunpeng Xu, Jianmin Shi, Guoran Huang, Qian Jing, Lu Wang, Feifei Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-03-01
Series:Geo-spatial Information Science
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10095020.2024.2311867
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author Yongjie Ji
Fuxiang Zhang
Wangfei Zhang
Lei Zhao
Kunpeng Xu
Jianmin Shi
Guoran Huang
Qian Jing
Lu Wang
Feifei Yang
author_facet Yongjie Ji
Fuxiang Zhang
Wangfei Zhang
Lei Zhao
Kunpeng Xu
Jianmin Shi
Guoran Huang
Qian Jing
Lu Wang
Feifei Yang
author_sort Yongjie Ji
collection DOAJ
description The penetration capability of electromagnetic wave signal into forest increases with increasing wavelength. SAR data at each frequency senses different components of forest structure. Therefore the biomass distributed at various tree components could be estimated using different radar frequencies. Additionally, the synthesis of multiple SAR frequencies could improve the accuracy in retrieving forest above-ground biomass (AGB). Taking advantage of available X-, C-, L-, and P-band quad-polarimetric SAR images of airborne or spaceborne for the test site located at Genhe national forest scientific field station, we used a Genetic Algorithm and Support Vector Regression optimization algorithm (GA-SVR) to explore the sensitivity of polarimetric observations at various frequencies to forest AGB and effectiveness of AGB retrievals using single-frequency, dual-frequency, triple-frequency, and quad-frequency SAR observation combinations. We found that: (i) Most of the polarimetric observations are sensitive to forest AGB, (ii) GA-SVR performed well in forest AGB retrieval using the single frequency SAR observations or combinations of multi-frequency observations; the highest Acc. value for single-frequency-retrieved results is 75.13% acquired at P-band, with multi-frequency, the highest Acc. values is 77.34% acquired by combining C- and P-band. (iii) For forest AGB retrievals, the single-frequency P-band accuracy is comparable to the combined C- and P-band retrieval accuracy, indicating that the long-wavelength single-frequency P-band is sufficient for an accurate forest AGB retrieval. The findings reconfirmed potential of P-band for forest AGB retrievals, they also demonstrated that the optimal combination of multi-frequency SAR for AGB retrievals is by using a short-wavelength (X/C-) and a long-wavelength (L/P-).
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1009-5020
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language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
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series Geo-spatial Information Science
spelling doaj-art-e538e4166b0b4ff6a3826fccc332bdac2025-08-20T03:26:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGeo-spatial Information Science1009-50201993-51532025-03-0128262964710.1080/10095020.2024.2311867Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomassYongjie Ji0Fuxiang Zhang1Wangfei Zhang2Lei Zhao3Kunpeng Xu4Jianmin Shi5Guoran Huang6Qian Jing7Lu Wang8Feifei Yang9School of Geography and Ecotourism, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Geography and Ecotourism, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaForestry College, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaInstitute of Forest Resources Information Technique, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Forest Resources Information Technique, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaForestry College, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaForestry College, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Geography and Ecotourism, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Geography and Ecotourism, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaForestry College, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, ChinaThe penetration capability of electromagnetic wave signal into forest increases with increasing wavelength. SAR data at each frequency senses different components of forest structure. Therefore the biomass distributed at various tree components could be estimated using different radar frequencies. Additionally, the synthesis of multiple SAR frequencies could improve the accuracy in retrieving forest above-ground biomass (AGB). Taking advantage of available X-, C-, L-, and P-band quad-polarimetric SAR images of airborne or spaceborne for the test site located at Genhe national forest scientific field station, we used a Genetic Algorithm and Support Vector Regression optimization algorithm (GA-SVR) to explore the sensitivity of polarimetric observations at various frequencies to forest AGB and effectiveness of AGB retrievals using single-frequency, dual-frequency, triple-frequency, and quad-frequency SAR observation combinations. We found that: (i) Most of the polarimetric observations are sensitive to forest AGB, (ii) GA-SVR performed well in forest AGB retrieval using the single frequency SAR observations or combinations of multi-frequency observations; the highest Acc. value for single-frequency-retrieved results is 75.13% acquired at P-band, with multi-frequency, the highest Acc. values is 77.34% acquired by combining C- and P-band. (iii) For forest AGB retrievals, the single-frequency P-band accuracy is comparable to the combined C- and P-band retrieval accuracy, indicating that the long-wavelength single-frequency P-band is sufficient for an accurate forest AGB retrieval. The findings reconfirmed potential of P-band for forest AGB retrievals, they also demonstrated that the optimal combination of multi-frequency SAR for AGB retrievals is by using a short-wavelength (X/C-) and a long-wavelength (L/P-).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10095020.2024.2311867Multi-frequency combinationforest Above-Ground Biomass (AGB)polarimetric synthetic aperture radar
spellingShingle Yongjie Ji
Fuxiang Zhang
Wangfei Zhang
Lei Zhao
Kunpeng Xu
Jianmin Shi
Guoran Huang
Qian Jing
Lu Wang
Feifei Yang
Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass
Geo-spatial Information Science
Multi-frequency combination
forest Above-Ground Biomass (AGB)
polarimetric synthetic aperture radar
title Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass
title_full Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass
title_fullStr Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass
title_full_unstemmed Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass
title_short Exploring optimal combinations of multi-frequency polarimetric SAR observations to estimate forest above-ground biomass
title_sort exploring optimal combinations of multi frequency polarimetric sar observations to estimate forest above ground biomass
topic Multi-frequency combination
forest Above-Ground Biomass (AGB)
polarimetric synthetic aperture radar
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10095020.2024.2311867
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