Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Sensitivity of Sentinel-1 backscatter to characteristics of buildings

Koppel, Kalev ; Zalite, K. LU ; Voormansik, Kaupo and Jagdhuber, Thomas (2017) In International Journal of Remote Sensing 38(22). p.6298-6318
Abstract

In this study, Sentinel-1 interferometric wide swath (IW) mode backscatter is analysed with respect to physical parameters of buildings in Tallinn, Estonia. Dependence on height, alignment, density, shape, and material is shown and discussed. Distribution of backscatter was estimated with respect to each of the parameters, and a correlation matrix of all physical parameters and backscatter values was computed. Height has the strongest effect on backscatter values for both polarization bands, while shape and alignment to orbit has weaker effect on the backscatter. Relationship of co-polarized and cross-polarized backscatter with how a building is aligned with respect to the satellite’s look angle indicates that double bounce from... (More)

In this study, Sentinel-1 interferometric wide swath (IW) mode backscatter is analysed with respect to physical parameters of buildings in Tallinn, Estonia. Dependence on height, alignment, density, shape, and material is shown and discussed. Distribution of backscatter was estimated with respect to each of the parameters, and a correlation matrix of all physical parameters and backscatter values was computed. Height has the strongest effect on backscatter values for both polarization bands, while shape and alignment to orbit has weaker effect on the backscatter. Relationship of co-polarized and cross-polarized backscatter with how a building is aligned with respect to the satellite’s look angle indicates that double bounce from wall–ground interactions is still the dominant scattering mechanism detected by Sentinel-1 in IW mode with 20 m resolution. In order to establish possible detection problems related to specifically oriented buildings at different latitudes, dihedral backscatter is modelled for buildings of oblong and square shapes. Results from this study should be used to improve existing and develop new urban area detection methods based on Sentinel-1 data.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of Remote Sensing
volume
38
issue
22
pages
21 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000406546100009
  • scopus:85025610733
ISSN
0143-1161
DOI
10.1080/01431161.2017.1353160
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b0f518fa-9aa6-4a2d-924e-f939dcbde6f7
date added to LUP
2017-08-02 07:25:50
date last changed
2024-03-31 14:03:52
@article{b0f518fa-9aa6-4a2d-924e-f939dcbde6f7,
  abstract     = {{<p>In this study, Sentinel-1 interferometric wide swath (IW) mode backscatter is analysed with respect to physical parameters of buildings in Tallinn, Estonia. Dependence on height, alignment, density, shape, and material is shown and discussed. Distribution of backscatter was estimated with respect to each of the parameters, and a correlation matrix of all physical parameters and backscatter values was computed. Height has the strongest effect on backscatter values for both polarization bands, while shape and alignment to orbit has weaker effect on the backscatter. Relationship of co-polarized and cross-polarized backscatter with how a building is aligned with respect to the satellite’s look angle indicates that double bounce from wall–ground interactions is still the dominant scattering mechanism detected by Sentinel-1 in IW mode with 20 m resolution. In order to establish possible detection problems related to specifically oriented buildings at different latitudes, dihedral backscatter is modelled for buildings of oblong and square shapes. Results from this study should be used to improve existing and develop new urban area detection methods based on Sentinel-1 data.</p>}},
  author       = {{Koppel, Kalev and Zalite, K. and Voormansik, Kaupo and Jagdhuber, Thomas}},
  issn         = {{0143-1161}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{22}},
  pages        = {{6298--6318}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Remote Sensing}},
  title        = {{Sensitivity of Sentinel-1 backscatter to characteristics of buildings}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2017.1353160}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/01431161.2017.1353160}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}