Patent ID: 8478003
Filing Date: 2013-07-02
Classification: A01G,G01S,G06T

Abstract:
1. A vegetation growth condition analysis method implemented by at least one processor and comprising the steps of: acquiring a plurality of radar images of a ground surface of a same target area taken at multiple times of a year by a radar device mounted on a flying body; storing the plurality of radar images acquired in the acquiring step in a map database; while using as a criterion image a radar image of the plurality of radar images stored in the map database, taken at a predetermined time in the multiple times of a year, aligning other radar images than the criterion image of the plurality of radar images, taken at other times than the predetermined time in the multiple times of a year, with the criterion image, respectively; extracting backscatter coefficients in specified areas of the plurality of radar images; based on a backscatter coefficient of a specified area in the criterion image of the plurality of radar images stored in the map database, calibrating backscatter coefficients of other radar images than the criterion image of the plurality of radar images; and based on a correlation between backscatter coefficients of radar images and growth values of vegetation shown in the radar images, calculating, using the at least one processor, growth values of vegetation shown in other radar images than the criterion image of the plurality of radar images, whose backscatter coefficients have been calibrated in the calibrating step, from the backscatter coefficients thereof calibrated in the calibrating step, wherein the calibrating step further includes: calculating, based on a backscatter coefficient of a specified area in the criterion image of the plurality of radar images stored in the map database and backscatter coefficients of specified areas of other radar images than the criterion image of the plurality of radar images, the specified areas of other radar images of the plurality of radar images each corresponding to the specified area in the criterion image, calibration lines for calibrating backscatter coefficients of other radar images than the criterion image of the plurality of radar images, and calibrating, based on the calibration lines calculated in the calibration line calculating step, backscatter coefficients of other radar images than the criterion image of the plurality of radar images.