Enhanced Target Characterization with Dual-Pol Sentinel-1 SAR Data

Characterizing targets with dual-polarimetric (dual-pol) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data has traditionally relied only on backscatter intensity. However, the limitations of conventional dual-pol parameters, such as the inability to differentiate between orthogonal targets like dihedral and trihedral structures, result in misclassification among diverse targets. This study proposes an innovative target characteristic parameter derived from both dual-pol single-look complex (SLC) and ground range detected (GRD) SAR data that effectively distinguishes between "dihedral-like" and "surface-like" targets, enabling improved characterization of diverse land cover targets.