Improving the characterization of permafrost using polarimetric SAR interferometry (pol-inSAR)

该项目的目标是利用极化合成孔径雷达干涉测量(POL-InSAR)来改善多年冻土的特征。该项目的动机是对准确描述加拿大北部永久冻土的空间分布和动态的日益增长的需求，以及先进遥感数据的可用性，例如RADASAT-2和将于2018年发射的RADARSAT星座任务。对北方永久冻土状况和未来趋势的准确信息和科学知识至关重要。需要它们来确定永久冻土系统对全球变暖的脆弱性，并为保护基础设施和生态系统以及最大限度地减少永久冻土融化的其他不利影响设计措施和有效的管理政策。为了实现这个项目的目标，我们将实现以下具体目标：开发先进的方法，通过利用POL-InSAR技术准确地表征由于多年冻土区季节变化而引起的地形位移，并利用从RADARSAT数据获得的数据提取的特征，开展活动层厚度预测的综合研究。该项目的成果将推动利用RADARSAT-2的数据集进行POL-InSAR技术的研究和开发及其在多年冻土表征中的应用。这将大大有助于理解全球气候变化对永久冻土地貌和相关生态系统的影响。开发的方法可以转让给我们的工业合作伙伴，PCI Geomatics Inc.，用于潜在的商业化。最终，这将带来国家和潜在的国际经济利益。该项目还将为高素质人员提供培训机会，以提高他们在完成高等教育课程后的就业前景。

The goal of this project is to exploit the Pol-InSAR (Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture RADAR Interferometry) to improve permafrost characterization. This project is motivated by the growing demands for accurate characterization of the spatial distribution and dynamics of permafrost in the Canadian North and is enabled by the availability of advanced remotely sensed data, such as those from RADASAT-2 and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) to be launched in 2018. Accurate information and scientific knowledge of the status and future trends of permafrost in the North are fundamentally important. They are needed to determine the vulnerability of permafrost systems to global warming and to design measures and effective management policies for the protection of infrastructures and ecosystems and for the minimization of other adverse effects of permafrost thawing. To achieve the goal of this project, we will fulfill the following specific objectives: develop advanced methodologies to accurately characterize the topographic displacements due to the seasonal changes in permafrost regions by exploiting the Pol-InSAR technology, and carry out a comprehensive study on the prediction of active layer thickness using features derived from data acquired by RADARSAT data. The outcome of this project will advance the research and development of the Pol-InSAR technology using data sets from RADARSAT-2 and its application in permafrost characterization. It will significantly contribute to understanding the effects of global climate change on permafrost landscapes and associated ecosystems. The developed methodologies can be transferred to our industrial partner, PCI Geomatics Inc, for potential commercialization. Ultimately, this will lead to national and potentially international economic benefits. The project will also provide training opportunities for highly qualified personnel to enhance their prospects for employment upon the completion of their higher education programs.