Project Funding: 2009 - 2012

NRA: 2008 NASA: Terrestrial Ecology   

Funded by NASA

Abstract:
This proposal addresses the need to develop algorithms for estimating vegetation three-dimensional (3D) structure and biomass relevant to the ecological applications of the DESDynI mission specified in the National Research Council’s Decadal Survey. These algorithms will serve to provide i.) a systematic methodology for combining the SAR, InSAR and LiDAR measurement capabilities of the DESDynI mission, and ii.) a mechanism to explore the observational tradespace in terms of the overall DESDynI instrument complexity versus the accuracy of the delivered products of vegetation 3D structure and estimates of above-ground biomass. The algorithm described in this proposal is based on a SAR segmentation approach that will be used to extend LiDAR observations over the DESDynI swath. By relying on segmentation, the algorithm allows for regions of a like response to the RaDAR, whether the backscatter sensitivity to biomass is saturated or not, to be aggregated and associated with LiDAR observations over similar regions. This algorithm will be initially exercised over local scales for the purpose of detailed refinement and providing short-term feedback to the overall instrument configuration. The results and experience obtained will then be broadened to address in the first instance, swath-wide scales and then include a sample of swaths over sites representing the major biomes and those with different vegetation 3D structure and biomass. The intent of the work will be to provide timely evaluative feedback to the overall mission configuration for the purpose of finalizing the ultimate DESDynI configuration as it applies to the stated needs of NASA’s Terrestrial Ecology program. By taking the multi-scale approach described here, first results will be available from the work within one year, with an increase in the breadth of analysis achieved over the duration of the project.

Publications:

Ahmed, R., Siqueira, P., Hensley, S., Bergen, K. 2013. Uncertainty of Forest Biomass Estimates in North Temperate Forests Due to Allometry: Implications for Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing. 5(6), 3007-3036. DOI: 10.3390/rs5063007

Dickinson, C., Siqueira, P., Clewley, D., Lucas, R. 2013. Classification of forest composition using polarimetric decomposition in multiple landscapes. Remote Sensing of Environment. 131, 206-214. DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2012.12.013

Lei, Y., Siqueira, P. 2014. Estimation of Forest Height Using Spaceborne Repeat-Pass L-Band InSAR Correlation Magnitude over the US State of Maine. Remote Sensing. 6(11), 10252-10285. DOI: 10.3390/rs61110252

Lei, Y., Siqueira, P. 2015. An Automatic Mosaicking Algorithm for the Generation of a Large-Scale Forest Height Map Using Spaceborne Repeat-Pass InSAR Correlation Magnitude. Remote Sensing. 7(5), 5639-5659. DOI: 10.3390/rs70505639

2015 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)

• Using Archival Repeat-Pass L-band InSAR data for Region-wide Mapping of Forest Stand Height   --   (Yang Lei, Paul Robert Siqueira)   [abstract]

2013 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s)

• Use of Segmentation for Combining Radar Backscatter, InSAR, and Lidar Measurements to Determine Vegetation 3D Structure and Biomass from Space   --   (Paul Robert Siqueira, Caitlin Dickinson, Razi Ahmed, Scott Hensley, Kathleen Bergen, Richard Maxwell Lucus, Yang Lei)   [abstract]

2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)

• A Segmentation Approach for Estimating Forest Structural Characteristics from Lidar and Radar: Analysis and Error Assessment   --   (Paul Robert Siqueira, Razi Ahmed, Caitlin Dickinson, Bruce Chapman, Scott Hensley, Kathleen Bergen)   [abstract]

2010 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s)

• Field and Aircraft Observations in Support of DESDynI   --   (Ralph Dubayah, Kathleen Bergen, Bryan Blair, Bruce Cook, Peter Griffith, Forrest Hall, Megan McGroddy, Paul Montesano, Amy Morrell, Ross Nelson, Wenge Ni-Meister, Michael O'Connell, Jon Ranson, Chelsea Robinson, Jeremy Rubio, Sassan Saatchi, Marc Simard, Paul Siqueira, Alan Strahler, Guoqing Sue, Anuradha Swatantran)   [abstract]   [poster]
• DESDynI ground validation studies over the Harvard and Injune forests   --   (Paul Robert Siqueira, Razi Ahmed, Richard Maxwell Lucas)   [abstract]

More details may be found in the following project profile(s):

• NASA Terrestrial Ecology (TE) Project Profile