FUSION OF OPTICAL AND SAR SATELLITE DATA FOR IMPROVED LAND COVER MAPPING IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS T. Riedel, C. Thiel, C. Schmullius Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geography, Earth Observation, Loebdergraben 32, D-07743 Jena, Germany, Email:
[email protected] ABSTRACT pixel, feature or decision level. With the availability of multifrequency and high-resolution spaceborne SAR Focus of this paper is on the integration of optical and data such as provided by the TerraSAR-X and PALSAR SAR data for improved land cover mapping in ALOS mission an increased interest in tools exploiting agricultural areas. The test site is located east of the full information content of both data types will arise. Nordhausen, Thuringia, Germany. From April to December 2005 Landsat-5 TM, ASAR APP and ERS-2 Objective of this paper is a comparison of different data were acquired continuously over the test site image fusion techniques for optical and SAR data in building up a comprehensive time series. Regarding the order to improve the classification accuracy in agricul- fusion of optical and SAR data following three aspects turally used areas. Furthermore, the potential of will be addressed by this paper. The value of different multitemporal SAR data for land cover and crop type methodologies for the synergistic usage of both data mapping will be demonstrated. In this context optimal types is subject of a first analysis. Multitemporal SAR image parameters for the derivation of basic land cover images provide an important data base for land cover classes will be defined. On base of these findings and crop type mapping issues.