Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) and RVI for Sentinel-1 SAR data (RVI4S1)

Radar vegetation indices such as RVI and RVI4S1 represent a significant advance in remote sensing by using radar technology to monitor vegetation.

• RVI (Radar Vegetation Index):
  • It is an index that is used to monitor crop growth.
  • RVI values range theoretically from 0 to 1.
  • Values close to zero indicate bare soil or young plants.
  • High values, close to 1, indicate fully developed plants.
  • Calculation formula: RVI=8σHV/(σHH+σVV+2σHV), where: σHH and σVV are the polarized backscattering coefficients.
• RVI4S1 (RVI for Sentinel-1 SAR data):
  • Is the derived radar vegetation index specific to Sentinel-1 satellite imagery.
  • It is a more complex index that requires a more detailed procedure and often a software script for its calculation.