Exploitation Results and News

Release 4.2 introduce few new functionalities for multi-temporal data processing, image analysis, calibration assessment procedure. Further information can be found in the Release Notes web page

Release 4.1.5 fixes some bugs/problems of prevoius version 4.0 Beta 1.3

Release 4.0 Beta 1.3 fixes some bugs/problems of prevoius version 4.0. Further information can be found in the Release Notes web page.

The handouts of the training/tutorial about the version of PolSARpro v. 4.0 beta 1 are available from the PolSARpro documentation page

The new version of PolSARpro v4.0 software has been completely redesigned, offering to the users a global environment where all the classical widgets are now embedded. The new version of PolSARpro v4.0 is now interfaced with the following external software: GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) that allows to display several PolSARpro output images at the same time, GOOGLE EARTH that allows to the user to display the footprint of the PolSAR image to be processed. It allows also to the user a direct link with the SRTM (Shuttle Radar Tomography Mission) database to download the corresponding SRTM DEM file and therefore the topography associated with the processed PolSAR image. And, at least, NEST (Next ESA SAR Toolbox) is a new ESA software for visualising, analysing and post- processing Level-1 or higher ESA and 3rd party SAR data (http://www.array.ca/nest).
PolSARpro 4.0 includes new compatibility to handle and convert polarimetric data from the Spaceborne Sensor ALOS-PALSAR (data level 1.1 and data level 1.5) with both the JAXA-CEOS format and the ERSDAC-Vexcel format. Additional functionalities like Faraday Rotation estimation, DEM estimation, surface scattering model ((OH 2004), decompositions by Van Zyl and Touzi (TSVM), Fuzzy H-Alpha segmentation, and new polarimetric speckle filters (Lee Sigma filter and the Lopez filter) have also been implemented. Concerning the Multi Data sets-Dual POLinSAR-Data Processing, the kz parameter derivation from a precise baseline estimation is available. This functionnality can only be applied today on ALOS-PALSAR (JAXA - CEOS) format Pol-InSAR datasets.

The European Space Agency is organising POLinSAR 2009, the 4th International Workshop on Science and Applications of SAR Polarimetry and Polarimetric Interferometry, which will be hosted in ESRIN, Frascati, Italy on 26-30 January 2009. A training course on the use and applications of the PolSARpro v 4.0 beta software will take place on Friday 30 January 2009, the last day of the Workshop, starting since 11:50 am. Futher information about how joining the course can be found in the POLinSAR 2009 Workshop website page.

The innovative radar imaging technique called Polarization Coherence Tomography (PCT) proposed by Prof. S.R. Cloude, which employs variation of the interferometric coherence with polarization to reconstruct a vertical profile function in penetrable volume scattering, has been implemented in this new PolSARpro release. Further information about changes can be found in the Release Notes.

PolSARpro now offers the possibility to exploit TerraSAR-X Dual-Pol data in Single Look Slant Range Complex (SSC), Enhanced Ellipsoid Corrected (EEC), Geocoded Ellipsoid Corrected (GEC) and Multi-Look Ground Range (MGD) modes. Different additional functionalities like Edge detectors, Data Clustering, decompositions by Freeman and Yamaguchi and new representations have also been implemented. Further information about these changes can be found in the Release Notes.

The recent technique called Compact Polarimetry Mode and the IDAN Speckle Filter are two new functionalities implemented for the Single Data set-Data Processing. Concerning the Multi Data sets-Dual POLinSAR-Data Processing, a complete reorganization of different POLinSAR utilities offers new dedicated widgets for Coherence Estimation and Height Estimation-Inversion Procedures. Some numerical problems of PolSARproSim have been solved and the new obtained results are now consistent with the POLinSAR tutorial examples. The PolSARpro v3.0 – beta 2 software version has been upgraded to run also on UNIX - Solaris 2 platform. Further information about these changes can be found in the Release Notes.

The version 3.0 of the PolSARpro software includes new compatibility to handle and convert polarimetric data from the Spaceborne Sensors ALOS-PALSAR (data level 1.1 and data level 1.5) and RadarSAT-2 Dual-Pol mode and Quad-Pol mode. Different additional PolSAR utilities relating to speckle filter, segmentation and data analysis, and new POLinSAR fuctionalities such as interferogram generation, coherence analysis, height estimation and segmentation are proposed. Tutorial section has been updated and improved with three specific Lectures Notes and a reviewed POLinSAR Training Course; in particular a fully polarimetric-interferometric coherent SAR Simulator, PolSARproSim, is available, providing simulated test data of high fidelity to be used within the tutorial package of PolSARpro v3.0. Further information about changes since the last version can be found in the Release Notes. PolSARpro v3.0 can be downloaded (both for Windows users both for Linux users) from this site.

The European Space Agency is organising POLinSAR 2007, the 3rd International Workshop on Science and Applications of SAR Polarimetry and Polarimetric Interferometry. It will be hosted in ESRIN, Frascati, Italy on 22-26 January 2007. A training course on the use and applications of the PolSARpro software will be included in the workshop programme.

PolSARpro v3.0 beta 1 Training Course handouts available.

The definitive version 2.0 of the PolSARpro software includes new compatibility with SIR-C data, additional polarimetric descriptors, classifiers and RGB representations, a tool allowing users to insert their own functions into the software and a revised tutorial section, plus several bug fixes. This version is also available for Windows users in an automatic installation package. Both versions can be downloaded from this site. Further information about changes since the last version can be found in the Change Log.

The new version includes a full interface for single and dual/multi datasets with tools for calibration and statistical analysis and is available for download from this site. Further information about changes since the last version can be found in the Change Log

Professor Eric Pottier of the University of Rennes 1 officially announced version 2.0 beta 6 of PolSARpro during the Second International Workshop on Applications of Polarimetry and Polarimetric Interferometry, held in Frascati, Italy, from 17-21 January 2005. The latest release includes a Full interface for single datasets. Here you can view the presentation made by Professor Pottier to the assembled POLSAR and POLInSAR Community.

A half-day training course on the use and applications of the PolSARpro software has been arranged to coincide with the POLInSAR 2005 Workshop. It will take place on the morning of Friday 21 January 2005, the last day of the Workshop, at ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. The course has no fee and is open to anybody who is interested, although numbers will be limited.

Following the first POLInSAR Workshop in January 2003 which brought together over 70 scientists and researchers in the fields of synthetic aperture radar polarimetry and polarimetric interferometry, the European Space Agency will host the Second International Workshop on Applications of Polarimetry and Polarimetric Interferometry, in Frascati, Italy, from 17-21 January 2005.

The Envisat Spaceborne Data Processing interface of PolSARpro v2.0 was demonstrated at the Envisat Symposium held in Salzburg on 6-10 September 2004. Here you can view the slide presentation made by Professor Eric Pottier of the University of Rennes 1.