Textural information of multitemporal ERS-1 and JERS-1 SAR images with applications to land and forest type classification in boreal zone

The textural information of a multitemporal set of ERS-1 and JERS-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images was studied with the first- and second-order statistical measures. These measures had a higher information value for the land-cover and forest type classification than the SAR image intensity. The multitemporal approach was beneficial for the application of the textural measures; the textural parameters significantly improved the classification of land-cover and forest types. Based on the SAR image texture, the overall classification accuracy for seven land-cover types was 65%, while with the SAR image intensity, the classification accuracy was 50%, respectively. In the forest type classification based on the SAR image texture and intensity, the overall classification accuracy for four forest types was 66%, while with the intensity, the accuracy was 40%, respectively. The weather and seasonal conditions had a significant effect on the textural information of SAR images. The best separability of the signatures and the best land-cover and forest type classification accuracy was achieved under summer conditions. The snow cover and arid conditions decreased the textural information of the SAR images.