Tropical forest robust 3D description using advanced multidimensional SAR imaging: techniques and performance in the context of the upcoming BIOMASS mission

Abstract. This paper proposes to quantitatively estimate the potential of 3D SAR imaging for tropical forest characterization using airborne and spaceborne system configuration. A robust forest characterization technique, relying a low-dimensionality model is proposed and is compared with a well-established polarimetric and tomographic approach. The investigated forest descriptors are the underlying ground topography (DTM) and the forest height (CHM). A quantitative performance evaluation reveals that the presented parametric technique achieves high-precision results at both high-resolution (airborne) and low resolution (BIOMASS) modes, whereas existing approaches meet limitations, due the coarse resolution of spaceborne SAR data.