The application of principal components analysis to multi-beam RADARSAT-1 satellite imagery: A tool for land cover and terrain mapping

Multi-beam RADARSAT-1 satellite imagery has been used as part of a regional terrain mapping program in northern Alberta, Canada. Principal components analysis (PCA) has been applied to ascending and descending standard beam modes with incidence angles of 20‐27° (S1) and 45‐49° (S7). The resulting components yield imagery that highlights geomorphology, geologic structure, variation in vegetation, and an indirect measure of moisture in the study area. These features are highlighted because of the interaction of incidence angles and look directions of the four beam modes. The use of multi-beam radar imagery has the potential to assist in terrain mapping over large areas.

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