Singularity analysis with wavelets in polarimetric SAR imagery for vegetation mapping applications

Abstract

Singularity and non-stationarity in images, such as edges and contours in the deterministic case, or fractal processes in the stochastic case, carry important thematic information. In particular we are interested in the evolution of structures with scale and polarization state in SAR images for land applications. We propose a technique to extract this type of information based on a multi-resolution analysis (MRA) using wavelets. The MRA is extended to include the wave polarization state as an additional dimension. Examples of the technique's application are reported and the main lines along which this research is developing in our laboratories is discussed.