Validation of Pol-InSAR Derived Forest Height by Means of LiDAR Data

Abstract

Although the potential of Polarimetric SAR Interferometry (Pol-InSAR) has been well established, in some cases the validation of the estimated parameters remains complex for the lack of direct ground measurements. Airborne Scanning LiDAR (ASL) is an alternative technique, working with laser frequencies and very narrow footprint. That makes ASL almost independent of topography and very reliable in mapping parameters like tree height in a variety of forest types. With the launch of the ICESat-GLAS satellite sensor in 2003, initially designed for topographic and cryospheric applications, also spaceborne LiDAR data started to be used to derive forest height. This paper assesses the derivation of forest height from ICESat data and its validation, together with Pol-InSAR tree height maps, by comparison with ASL estimations from the Thuringian Forest, in Germany.