Characterization of double-bounce scattering in RVoG scenarios using controlled HR-PolTomSAR experiments

This paper evaluates the potential of Polarimetric SAR Tomography (PolTomSAR) for analyzing a semi-opaque Random Volume lying over a rough Ground (RVoG), and to assess different characterization methods aiming to retrieve the ground characteristics. This study is based on the use of controlled experiments, during which a miniaturized RvoG-like scene is imaged with a laboratory 3-D SAR, operated along a 2-D aperture. Polarimetric and tomographic signals are acquired for various configurations, and different scattering mechanisms are naturally captured by removing, hiding or replacing different parts of the scene. This unique possibility to isolate specific scattering mechanisms is used to evaluate the performance and relevance of existing decomposition techniques generally applied to forest characterization.