Mapping forest clearcuts using radar digital imagery: A review of the Canadian experience

Abstract

Annual clearcut mapping is currently done in Canada mainly from photo-interpretation of aerial photographs. An advantageous alternative would use digital imagery. Optical imagery acquisition depends on weather and illumination conditions, but not radar images. This paper documents the state of practice in Canada in the use of radar digital images for clearcut mapping, with regards to the type of images used, to the influence of environmental conditions, the band, polarization, time of the year, and incidence angles, as well as to the mapping accuracy. Synergism between optical and radar images is also discussed. Finally, a few experimental automated mapping systems using radar imageries are presented. Key words: remote sensing, forest inventory updating, clearcut mapping, synthetic aperture radar, microwave, digital imagery