General Information¶
This plugin generates derived SAR parameters (viz. vegetation indices, polarimetric decomposition parameters) from input polarimetric matrix (C3, T3, C2, T2). The input data needs to be in PolSARpro/ENVI format (*.bin and *.hdr). It requires numpy, matplotlib python libraries pre-installed.
Installation¶
Note
SAR tools requires QGIS version >=3.0.
- The easiest way (requires internet connection) :
Open QGIS -> Plugins -> Manage and Install Plugins… –> select
All
tab -> search forSAR tools
–> select and install plugin
- Alternative way (offline installation) :
Go to releases of SAR tools -> select desired version -> download the
.zip
file.Open QGIS -> Plugins -> Manage and Install Plugins… –>
install from ZIP
tab –> select the downloaded zip –> install plugin (ignore warnings, if any).
Up and running¶
After successful installation, find the plugin by opening QGIS –> Plugins –> SAR tools
–> Process. As shown in the following figure.

Opening the plugin¶

GUI-Main window layout¶
Layout:
Data type tabs: Functions are arranged according to the data dype (full-, compact- and dual-pol).
Function detials viewer: Contains list of functions for respective data tab.
Derived arameter selection, required input variables and constraints.
Input data folder
Logger: displays the log of procesing parameters
progressbar: displays the progress of current task.
Credits and quick help.
Additional reset
button to clear the envirinment, view data
button to import the data into QGIS environment and Process
button to start processing after selecting valid input data variables.
Available functionalities¶
Full-pol
Model free 3-Component decomposition for full-pol data (MF3CF)
Radar Vegetation Index (RVI)
Generalized volume Radar Vegetation Index (GRVI)
Polarimetric Radar Vegetation Index (PRVI)
Degree of Polarization (DOP)
Compact-pol
Model free 3-Component decomposition for compact-pol data (MF3CC)
Improved S-Omega decomposition for compact-pol data (iS-Omega)
Compact-pol Radar Vegetation Index (CpRVI)
Degree of Polarization (DOP)
Dual-pol
Example usage¶
Note
All the following processing steps should be done in sequential manner. Sample data for all the polarization modes is provided in [sample_data](/sample_data/) folder.
STEP 1: Open the plugin as explained in Up and running section.
STEP 2: Select the polarimetric data type (Full/compact/dual).

Selecting the polarimetric mode¶
STEP 3: Select the parameter/descriptor from the dropdown menu.

Selecting the polarimetric descriptor¶
STEP 4: Provide the required input variables.

Selecting the input variables¶
STEP 5: Select the input matrix folder.

Selecting the input folder¶
STEP 6: Wait for the logger to prompt `->> Ready to process.`
–> click process
Note
Do not click process button more than once while it is processing. It may crash the QGIS and the plugin. It is possible that the plugin may show not responding for larger datasets but please wait for the process to complete.

Processing the data for selected descriptor¶
STEP 7 (optional): Click view data to import the data into QGIS for vizualisation of the generated descriptors.

Importing the data into QGIS for visualization¶

Imported data in QGIS¶
Functions description¶
Description and the details of all the core functions of this plugin are available here: (Functions description)
Contributions¶
Contribute to the software
Report issues or problems with the software
Please raise your issues here : https://github.com/Narayana-Rao/SAR-tools/issues
Seek support
Please write to us: bnarayanarao@iitb.ac.in