LiDAR and radar fusion

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation: High-resolution laser ranging of the Earth’s forests and topography

The paper mapped above ground biomass using satellite radar and LiDAR fusion. Satellite radar systems provides global data, as it passes through clouds. However, radar cannot produce vertical profile. Satellite LiDAR system, the paper targeting, provides accurate canopy point clouds. On the contrary, clouds occlude LiDAR incident wave. As the author mentioned, it only covered only 4% of the surface for 2 years. To combine LiDAR with radar, LiDAR data was compared to radar and then extended to radar. Validation was done plots where the coverage of LiDAR and radar overlapped.

Reference

Dubayah, R., Blair, J. B., Goetz, S., Fatoyinbo, L., Hansen, M., Healey, S., ... & Armston, J. (2020). The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation: High-resolution laser ranging of the Earth’s forests and topography. Science of Remote Sensing, 1, 100002.