Polarimetric Classification in a Tailings Deposition Area at the Timika Mine Site, Indonesia

Abstract.  Preliminary results indicate that polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data can be useful in characterizing remote tailings sites in Indonesia. Recent launches of polarimetric radar satellites offer new opportunities to use such data. Wishart polarimetric radar classification was used to map tailings conditions and vegetative stress. We assessed the accuracy of our analysis and found that almost all scatterers could be discriminated properly, and that the technique was particularly useful in distinguishing saturated versus relatively dry tailings. Since tropical regions are subject to severe atmospheric disturbances, tailings stability is a major issue; there is thus high potential value in using radar remote sensing to aid revegetation and tailings stabilization.