RADAR for Biomass MappingRADAR for Biomass Mapping

Josef KellndorferJosef Kellndorfer

Wayne Walker, Katie Kirsch, Greg Wayne Walker, Katie Kirsch, Greg FiskeFiske

The Woods Hole ResearchThe Woods Hole Research CenterCenter

GOFC-GOLD Biomass WorkshopGOFC-GOLD Biomass Workshop

Missoula,Missoula, 15-June-200915-June-2009

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OutlineOutline

•• Some RadarSome Radar principlesprinciples

•• Measurements and Methods forMeasurements and Methods for biomassbiomass

retrieval withretrieval with radarradar

•• Current and Planned SAR MissionsCurrent and Planned SAR Missions

•• The U.S. National Biomass and CarbonThe U.S. National Biomass and Carbon

Dataset 2000: Example of large scaleDataset 2000: Example of large scale

biomass mapping involving radarbiomass mapping involving radar

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EM Spectrum for Imaging RadarEM Spectrum for Imaging Radar

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Waterford –Ireland 9-Aug-1991

ERS: 11.25 am, Landsat 10:43 am

Courtesy: ESA

Radar imaging is cloud-penetrating Radar imaging is cloud-penetrating ……

•• All-weatherAll-weathermappingmappingcapabilitycapability

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From: Manual of Remote Sensing Third Edition, Vol 2

Review of Radar Remote SensingReview of Radar Remote Sensing

Role of FrequencyRole of Frequency

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Radar

Scattering

Intensity

Short

Wave

Long

Wave

C

T T

C

T C T C

C = Crown

T = Trunk

Review of Radar Remote SensingReview of Radar Remote Sensing

Role of PolarizationRole of Polarization

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The radar illuminates the vegetation with microwave energy (at an angle) that interacts

with vegetation structure and ground in a way that is related to above ground biomass.

Scattering Mechanisms in VegetationScattering Mechanisms in Vegetation

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Synthetic Aperture RadarSynthetic Aperture Radar

•• To achieve highTo achieve highresolution fromresolution fromspace, a largespace, a large radarradarantenna size needsantenna size needsto be synthesizedto be synthesized

•• ImageImage formation isformation istypically performedtypically performedthrough Dopplerthrough Dopplerrange processingrange processing

•• Leads to Leads to ““specklespeckleeffectseffects””

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•• ItIt’’s simples simpletrigonometrytrigonometry

Surface

What is Radar What is Radar Interferometry Interferometry anyway?anyway?

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Measurements forMeasurements for Biomass Retrieval withBiomass Retrieval with RadarRadar

•• Aboveground Biomass:Aboveground Biomass:

–– SAR Backscatter measurementsSAR Backscatter measurements•• Single and multi-frequency SARSingle and multi-frequency SAR

•• Single and Single and mutli-polarization mutli-polarization SARSAR

–– Interferometric Interferometric MeasurementsMeasurements•• Coherence measurementsCoherence measurements

•• Interferometric Interferometric height retrievalheight retrieval

•• Polarimetric Polarimetric interferometry interferometry ((PolInSARPolInSAR))

•• Multi-baseline Multi-baseline interferometryinterferometry

•• SAR tomographySAR tomography

•• Belowground biomass:Belowground biomass:

–– Ground penetrating radar backscatterGround penetrating radar backscatter

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Biomass RetrievalBiomass Retrieval Methods withMethods with RadarRadar

•• Regression modelsRegression models

–– Biomass = a · e Biomass = a · e b(sigma-0, coherence, b(sigma-0, coherence, ……))

•• Semi-Emperical Semi-Emperical modelsmodels

–– Combining Combining radiative radiative transfer models with biomass-transfer models with biomass-backscatter calibrationbackscatter calibration

–– Macro-ecology modelingMacro-ecology modeling

•• Statistically based estimation modelsStatistically based estimation models

–– Bayesian MLEBayesian MLE

–– Ensemble learningEnsemble learning regression treesregression trees

•• Fusion of radar-based forest changeFusion of radar-based forest changemeasurements into emissions modelsmeasurements into emissions models

15-Jun-09 Josef Kellndorfer, Biomass Workshop, Missoula 12Source: ASPRS 2/12/08Source: ASPRS 2/12/08

ESA Biomass Mission

U.S. DESDynI (Radar/ Lidar)

Brazil/Chiina CBERSAR

Japan - ALOS Follow-on (2012?)

Argentina

Current and Planned SAR SatellitesCurrent and Planned SAR Satellites

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A Global Mission:A Global Mission:

The Shuttle Radar Topography MissionThe Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

•• Flown in February 2000Flown in February 2000during mission STS-99 onduring mission STS-99 onSpace Shuttle Space Shuttle EndeavorEndeavor

•• First mission of its kindFirst mission of its kindusing using radarradarinterferometryinterferometry

•• Covered 119 millionCovered 119 millionsquare kilometers in 11square kilometers in 11daysdays

•• Goal: Best global 3-DGoal: Best global 3-Ddata set of Earthdata set of Earth

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•• A fundamental law ofA fundamental law ofscience applies to thescience applies to theSRTM data:SRTM data:

““One scientistOne scientist’’ssnoise is anothernoise is anotherscientistscientist’’sssignal!signal!””

Mean Canopy

Height

Mean Scattering

Phase Center

Height

SRTM Resolution Cell

Surface

Mean Radar

Measured

Height

Mean Canopy

Height

Ground

Elevation

SRTM Vegetation ResponseSRTM Vegetation Response

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hcan = 1.261 * h spc + 5.778

Adjusted r2 = 0.86, n = 12

hcan = 1.160 * h spc + 6.619

Adjusted r2 = 0.79, n = 15

10.0

12.5

15.0

17.5

20.0

22.5

4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0

SRTM Scattering Phase Center Height [m]

Mea

n O

bser

ved

Stan

d H

eigh

t [m

]

Samples Averaged >= 50

Samples Averaged >= 20

Samples Averaged >= 50

Samples Averaged >= 20

SRTM Vegetation Height RetrievalSRTM Vegetation Height Retrieval

•• Kellndorfer, J.M., W.S. WalkerKellndorfer, J.M., W.S. Walkerand L.E. Pierce, M.C Dobson,and L.E. Pierce, M.C Dobson,J. J. FitesFites, C. , C. HunsakerHunsaker, J. , J. VonaVona,,M. Clutter, "M. Clutter, "Vegetation heightVegetation heightderivation from Shuttlederivation from ShuttleRadar Topography MissionRadar Topography Missionand National Elevation dataand National Elevation datasets.sets." Remote Sensing of" Remote Sensing ofEnvironment, Vol. 93, No. 3,Environment, Vol. 93, No. 3,339-358, 2004.339-358, 2004.

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Principal InvestigatorPrincipal Investigator::

Josef KellndorferJosef Kellndorfer

Woods Hole Research CenterWoods Hole Research Center

Research Team:Research Team:

Wayne Walker, Katie Kirsch,Wayne Walker, Katie Kirsch,

Greg Greg FiskeFiske

Woods Hole Research CenterWoods Hole Research Center

Elizabeth LaPoint, Mike Hoppus,Elizabeth LaPoint, Mike Hoppus,

Jim WestfallJim Westfall

USDA Forest Service FIA Program:USDA Forest Service FIA Program:

Collaboration:Collaboration:

Dean Dean GeschGesch, National Elevation Dataset, USGS, National Elevation Dataset, USGS

Collin HomerCollin Homer, National Land Cover Database, National Land Cover Database2001 / MRLC, USGS2001 / MRLC, USGS

Zhi-Liang Zhi-Liang ZhuZhu, LANDFIRE, USGS, LANDFIRE, USGS

Funding and Support:Funding and Support:

NASA Terrestrial Ecology ProgramNASA Terrestrial Ecology Program

LANDFIRELANDFIRE

PCI PCI GeomaticsGeomatics

Definiens Imaging/eCognitionDefiniens Imaging/eCognition

Four year project to produce

-Forest vegetation height

-Biomass and

-Carbon Estimates

-Conterminous U.S.

-First attempt at 30 m

resolution ever

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NLCD 2001 NLCD 2001

Land Cover Land Cover

NLCD 2001 NLCD 2001

Canopy DensityCanopy Density

NED ElevationNED Elevation

SlopeSlope

SRTM - NEDSRTM - NED

MRLC Landsat MRLC Landsat

Tasseled Cap Tasseled Cap

Predicted HeightPredicted Height

Predicted BiomassPredicted Biomass

Validation

Response

Variables

FIA Data

Height

Biomass

Biomass

Predictor

Layers

Height

Predictor

Layers

Regression Tree

Modeling

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NBCD 2000 - Basal-Area Weighted HeightNBCD 2000 - Basal-Area Weighted Height

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NBCD 2000 - Aboveground Live BiomassNBCD 2000 - Aboveground Live Biomass

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ComparisonComparison

with otherwith other

ApproachesApproaches

What is theWhat is the

truth?truth?

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The ALOS SatelliteThe ALOS Satellite

•• Launched by JAXA January on 24Launched by JAXA January on 24thth 2006 2006

•• Three sensors: PRISM, AVNIR-2 and PALSARThree sensors: PRISM, AVNIR-2 and PALSAR

•• PALSAR: First polarimetric L-band sensor onPALSAR: First polarimetric L-band sensor on

free-flying Earth RS satellitefree-flying Earth RS satellite

(PALSAR = Phased Array L-band SAR)(PALSAR = Phased Array L-band SAR)

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ALOS PALSAR Observation PlanALOS PALSAR Observation Plan

Fine Beam ModeFine Beam Mode

HH/HV HH Polarimetric

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Pan-Tropical FBD DataPan-Tropical FBD Data SetSet

•• Baseline: 2007 FBD Data,Baseline: 2007 FBD Data, Gaps filled with 2008 Data (15,000 FBDGaps filled with 2008 Data (15,000 FBDFrames)Frames)

•• Yellow: First target area currentlyYellow: First target area currently ordered, 5,500 Framesordered, 5,500 Frames

•• Green: RemainingGreen: Remaining data, 9,500data, 9,500 FramesFrames

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Pan-Tropical ALOS Mapping: Status 06/09Pan-Tropical ALOS Mapping: Status 06/09

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ALOS/ALOS/

PALSARPALSAR

Radar ImageRadar Image

Mosaic of theMosaic of the

XinguXingu

WatershedWatershed

Data Acquistion:

6/8-7/22 2007

Number of Scenes:

116

Spacing: 25 m

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1996 JERS Image

2006 ALOS-PALSAR Image

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Color Composite Image (R-G-B = JERS-ALOS-Difference)

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Recent Logging

1996-2006 Forest Cover Change Map

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ConclusionConclusion

•• Advances in recent years in radar remoteAdvances in recent years in radar remotesensingsensing

–– Processing largelyProcessing largely solvedsolved

–– Global DEM data available for Global DEM data available for orthorectification orthorectification andandradiometric correctionradiometric correction

•• ALOS is the first L-Band multi-polarimetricALOS is the first L-Band multi-polarimetricoperational free-flyeroperational free-flyer

–– ALOS-2 is approvedALOS-2 is approved

•• Continuation of operational C-Band missionsContinuation of operational C-Band missions((RadarsatRadarsat, Sentinel), Sentinel)

•• Tandem-X will provideTandem-X will provide single-passsingle-passinterferometric interferometric data similar to SRTMdata similar to SRTM

•• Biomass missions on the horizon: BIOMASSBiomass missions on the horizon: BIOMASS(ESA), (ESA), DESDynI DESDynI (NASA)(NASA)

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Forest VisualizationForest Visualization NBCD Height DataNBCD Height Data

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!