Incoherent target scattering decomposition of polarimetric SAR data based on vector model roll-invariant parameters

Cameron's coherent decomposition is reconsidered in this paper for incoherent target decomposition. Characterizations of the minimum and maximum symmetric scattering components are considered in a unified model and projected into the Pauli basis to derive a new scattering vector model for the representation of coherent target scattering. Some roll-invariant parameters can be derived from the defined scattering vector model, and the classification method that Cameron developed for operational use of his decomposition can be performed using these parameters. The proposed model is compared with Touzi's target scattering vector model (TSVM), and it is revealed that the parameters of the TSVM are not unique and are invariant to the orientation angle of the polarization ellipse of the maximum copolarization backscattering return, which is descriptive of the polarization, whereas the extracted parameters from the proposed scattering vector are invariant to the orientation of the symmetry axis of the maximum symmetric component of the scatterer, which is descriptive of the target. From the implementation using Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar and Experimental Synthetic Aperture Radar images, the advantages and efficiency of the proposed scattering vector model are demonstrated.