Data Editors：Robert Wang; Lu Pingping

Dataset Introduction: HEAD-1.0 is a dataset designed for the research and promotion of Hybrid Polarimetric (HP) SAR, to advance the development and breakthroughs of key techniques such as polarimetric calibration, scattering characteristic analysis, and land cover classification. Compared with quad-polarimetric (QP) SAR, HP-SAR provides higher observation resolution, wider swath and field of view, and superior ambiguity performance, while maintaining comparable land-cover classification capability. The dataset primarily consists of L1 Single Look Complex (SLC) images acquired by the stripmap mode of LuTan-1. The nominal resolution of the HP mode is 3 m with a swath width of 50 km, including two polarization combinations (LH–LV or RH–RV). The QP mode provides a nominal resolution of 6 m with a swath width of 30 km, including four polarizations (HH, HV, VH, and VV). To meet diverse polarimetric application needs, HEAD-1.0 additionally provides geocoded SLC (GSLC) products.

HEAD-1.0 covers three representative regions with distinct geographical and geomorphological characteristics: (1) the mountain–gobi transition zone in the eastern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang; (2) the grassland–desert steppe ecotone in Sonid, Inner Mongolia; and (3) the hilly–plain agricultural zone of the Taihang Mountains and its southern piedmont. The dataset is intended to support a wide range of polarimetric research applications, with a particular focus on:

Hybrid-polarimetric calibration: Information on calibrator deployment and scattering matrices is provided. HP and QP images from the Hami and Sonid calibration sites are employed to develop and validate HP calibration methods.

Land cover classification: Localized ground truth maps and auxiliary optical imagery are provided. Land-cover classification algorithms tailored to HP data can be developed, and systematic comparisons between QP and HP modes can be performed across multiple classification tasks to delineate the capability boundaries of HP mode and to inform the selection of polarimetric modes in future SAR missions.

Planetary analog studies: Planetary analog landform annotations are provided. Comparative analyses of HP characteristics across different analog landforms can be conducted, and automated recognition and extraction algorithms can be developed to support analog studies in planetary geology.

The current data reference format is as follows:

Lizhi Liu, Robert Wang, Lu Pingping, et al. Spaceborne Hybrid-Polarimetric SAR Evaluation and Analysis Dataset[DS/OL]. Journal of Radars, 2025.

https://radars.ac.cn/web/data/getData?newsColumnId=3cbe864e-634b-4e4e-8bc7-bc3758c6ffc2&pageType=en

Data release time：2025-9-25