IETR-UdR1 : Institute for Electronics and Telecommunications of Rennes I.E.T.R (UMR CNRS 6164) brings together research teams working in the fields of electronics and telecommunications at the University of Rennes 1.

With around 180 people, the unit is linked to the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and places the emphasis on developing the skills needed to explore a wide range of emerging applications, including smart antennas, radiomobile, system on chip (SOC), UWB technology, Radar polarimetry, Polarimetric SAR Interferometry, Radar Remote sensing, etc. The SAPHIR (SAR Polarimetry Holography Interferometry and Radargrammetry) team is part of the Image Processing and Remote Sensing group of the I.E.T.R and is composed of 4 senior researchers, 1 post-doc and 9 Ph.D. students. The research activities of Laurent Ferro-Famil (MdC) and Sophie Allain (MdC) concern both qualitative and quantitative aspects of SAR remote sensing with an emphasis on Polarimetric Interferometric SAR (Pol-InSAR) data processing.

• In the domain of qualitative analysis of target and natural medium scattering properties, the joint use of a theoretical approach to Radar Polarimetry (polarization algebra, decomposition theorems...) and signal processing principles adapted and developed to meet SAR remote sensing requirements, permits to significantly improve the understanding of the backscattering phenomenon. Polarimetric processing techniques have been developed in the frame of the ESA-ESRIN contracts and gathered into the freely distributed interactive software PolSARpro [Pottier et al. 2007].
• In the domain of quantitative remote sensing, methods are developed to retrieve bio and geo-physical properties of natural media from Pol-InSAR data. Applications concern natural surfaces, snow, forests and urban areas. Different SAR acquisition configurations such as multi-temporal, multi-frequency, full or partial polarization modes may be used to improve performances. All the research activities of the SAPHIR team are supported by private and public organizations in the frame of national and international contracts, collaborations or conventions.

Postal address:

Université de Rennes 1

Campus Beaulieu - bât. 11C
263 ave. du Général Leclerc
CS 74205
35042 Rennes Cedex
FRANCE