Implementation of fast airborne synthetic aperture radar simulation

Kao, Hui-Shun

Implementation of fast airborne synthetic aperture radar simulation

Thesis / Dissertation

2004

Abstract

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a powerful tool to map the topographic data of the Earth surface regardless of weather and optical illumination effects. Since nowadays the modem aircraft may be fitted with SAR facility, the aim of this dissertation is to develop fast algorithms for a fast or real-time like SAR simulator which could aid in airplane pilot training. In this dissertation, a geometric approach to the topographic mapping of SAR was studied and then implemented using computer software. In particular, the effect of antenna flight path on the outcome of Synthetic Aperture Radar was examined. To generate necessary data, a SAR simulator was implemented. The geometric relationship between radar sensor and imaging terrain forms the central core of the software. A technique to find a set of sample points on the observed scene in the antenna zero-Doppler plane was examined. A method to work out the scattering points ( center position of resolution cell) was examined, which is based on the derived sample point set and the vector geometry of the observation system. Using the information of scattering points as a basis, techniques to work out radar layover and shadow maps, slant range area to ground range area conversion, backscattering coefficients of scene, SAR power image and signal distribution were derived. The values of backscattering coefficient were based on the empirical data from Ulaby and Dobson's work. Finally, the computer generated results were compared to real SAR results to verify the accuracy and realism of the simulator. A performance evaluation for the processing speed of the simulator was discussed.

Keywords

Electrical Engineering

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