Analysis of 3D forest canopy height models resulting from stereo-radargrammetric processing of TerraSAR-X images

The presented study focuses on the evaluation of 3D digital surface models and canopy height models resulting from stereo-radargrammetric processing of TerraSAR-X images. These models are compared to highly accurate LiDAR data. It is shown that the accuracy of these DSMs are very high over bare ground, however regions of forest are systematically underestimated, like known from InSAR processing. This bias of about 27% of the real canopy height is caused as the SAR signal in X-band penetrates into the forest canopy. Detailed analysis and evaluations are per-formed to understand and to correct the underestimation.