Crop Classification and Biomass Estimate Using Cosmo-Skymed and Sentinel-1 Data in an Agricultural Test Area in Central Italy

Abstract

In this paper, an algorithm based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) was developed to correctly classify an agricultural area in central Italy, by using SAR images. This preliminary step is vital for mastering the different influence of crop types in SAR data before the implementation of algorithms devoted to estimate of vegetation biomass. In situ data collected on the test site were used for validating the CNN algorithm-based classification. After the agricultural species recognition, a sensitivity analysis between C-band Sentinel-1 and X-band COSMO-SkyMed backscatter coefficients and crop biomass was carried out, laying the foundation for the implementation of algorithms able to estimate the biomass of different crop types.