Urban land use separability as a function of radar polarization

Abstract

In this study the relationship between urban land use features and radar polarization was examined. Statistical tests were applied to density readings of HH-and HV-polarized X-band SAR imagery to determine: (1) differences in signal return among urban land use categories within a single polarization and (2) variations in signal return between polarizations for individual land use categories. Only one category produced a statistical difference between polarizations. Although some categories were separable on both polarizations, others were separable only on a single polarization. Possible reasons are discussed along with an observed clustering of classes by signal response/grey tone.