Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR)

“Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a remote sensing method that produces radar imagery by emitting successive radio frequency (RF) waves and receiving their reflected echoes. SAR polarimetry, known as PolSAR, refers to the measurement and analysis of the polarisation state of these radio waves, which provides additional information on the surface structure, geometry and material properties of the Earth’s surface. PolSAR enables the enhanced classification of terrain types, vegetation, and urban features through the analysis of different polarisation responses.” (eoPortal, 2025)

Sources

eoPortal. 2025. “Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar.” https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/polsar#polarimetricsar.

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Interview with Felix Kasiti, PhD Researcher, University of Stirling

I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Stirling in Scotland, funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council through the IAPETUS DTP. My research focuses on using SAR Polarimetry to map and monitor floods in Scotland and Guyana. Additionally, I use ground radar to understand signal interactions under simulated flooding conditions, aiming to improve flood detection. My goal is to enhance the management and protection of floodplains and wetlands through advanced radar satellite technology and field-tested methodologies. Before my PhD, I worked as an assistant hydrologist at the SERVIR Eastern and Southern Africa project at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development in Nairobi, Kenya, from 2019 to 2022. In this position, I led the development of an operational hydrological model that improved access to hydrological data for ungauged rivers in East Africa. I was also the lead hydrologist in the implementation of a flood early warning system in Malawi, integrating ground measurements and satellite-derived water level data to issue flood forecasts.