Metallic objects and oil spill detection with multi-polarization SAR

In this study, two innovative physically-based approaches have been developed to detect man-made metallic objects and oil slicks in polarimetric SAR data. They are based on the different sea surface scattering mechanisms expected with and without oil slicks and metallic objects. Experiments, accomplished over Single Look Complex (SLC) Level 1.1 quad-pol L-band ALOS PALSAR SAR data, demonstrate the effectiveness of the two approaches for oil slick and metallic target detection purposes and witness the capability of ALOS PALSAR data for such applications.