Full Polarimetric ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 Analysis for the Location of Shorelines with Varying Orientation and Coastal Characteristics

Abstract

Every year, the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan collects improved Administrative Zone vector data from the administrative divisions of Japan and uses them to update the National Land Numerical Information (NLNI). The purpose of this study was to use the full polarimetric ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data to qualitatively evaluate the accuracy of shoreline detection for updates to the NLNI. We also evaluated the shoreline data using ASTER/VNIR data with a spatial resolution similar to that of the ALOS2/PALSAR-2. The combined image of edge images, i.e., surface scattering power (Ps), double-bounce scattering power (Pd), volume scattering power (Pv), and helix scattering power (Pc) were generally capable of identifying the shoreline on various types of coasts. The combined image has the advantage of being able to detect various terrain features and coastline orientation, which is not possible when using single polarization image analysis. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to update the NLNI Administrative Zone vector data using the full polarimetric ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data.