Side-looking Radar—A Remote Sensing Application in South African Forestry Plantations

Abstract

Side-looking Radar (SLR) is presented as being complementary to LANDSAT imagery in mapping and monitoring forestry plantations on a regional basis. An analysis is made of part of a strip of radar imagery over South Africa acquired during the second space shuttle flight of November 1981. It is concluded that such radar imagery would complement LANDSAT imagery available at present by viewing the same sites under different imaging geometries and by providing additional information on surface cover characteristics, partly overcoming the shadow problem in mountainous areas. SLR imagery also indicates much more precisely small clearfelled areas and plantations damaged by fire, while fire-breaks, railroads and plantation roads are also better defined. Should further local radar imagery become available, it is proposed that research be undertaken by the South African Forestry Research Institute to pursue the use of radar imagery in conjunction with LANDSAT and other airborne imagery in forestry applications in South Africa.