Measurements of foliage attenuation using a drone

Foliage attenuation of radar signals is function of the length of the path travelled by the electromagnetic wave through the forest, i.e. the angle of elevation at which the signal propagates.An original concept is proposed to have a magnitude estimation of this absorption for P-band frequencies in function of elevation. The aim is to compare the level of signal received with antennas above and under the canopy from a source embarked on the drone flying above the forest.The results obtained and the characterization as a function of elevation show a good consistency with the values displayed in the literature.