Tomographic imaging with UAVSAR: Current status and new results from the 2016 AfriSAR campaign

We present our progress results of SAR tomographic imaging using L-band NASA/JPL UAVSAR data collected in Gabon during the 2016 AfriSAR campaign. Several tomographic experiments were conducted in February 2016 over four different sites with a broad diversity of vegetation types, soil characteristics and weather conditions. Here we describe the campaign objectives and report on the status of the UAVSAR tomographic processor for retrieving the 3D structure of forests. We discuss several algorithms, including stack formation, phase calibration and structure retrieval. The availability of NASA/GSFC LVIS waveforms enables cross-comparison of the radar-derived structure with the lidar-derived structure. Results are reported for the Lopé National Park and demonstrate the maturity of the 3D UAVSAR tomographic processing for ecosystem science and applications.