Modeling and a Correlation Algorithm for Spaceborne SAR Signals

A mathematical model of a spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) response is presented. The associated SAR system performance, in terms of the resolution capability, is also discussed. The analysis of spaceborne SAR target response indicates that the SAR correlation problem is a two-dimensional one with a linear shift-variant response function. A new digital processing algorithm is proposed here in order to realize an economical digital SAR correlation system. The proposed algorithm treats the two-dimensional correlation by a combination of frequency domain fast correlation in the azimuth dimension and a time-domain convolver type of operation in the range dimension. Finally, digitally correlated SEASAT satellite SAR imagery is used in an exemplary sense to validate the SAR response model and the new digital processing technique developed.     

A technique for enhanced slant range resolution for SAR systems inknowledge-based environment

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an airborne (or spaceborne) radar mapping technique for generating high resolution maps of surface target areas including terrain. High resolution is achieved by coherently combining the returns from a number of radar transmissions. The resolution of the images is determined by the parameters of the emissions, with more data giving greater resolution. A requirement of the Microwave Radar Division's SAR radar is to provide classification of targets. This paper presents a technique for enhancing slant range resolution in SAR images by dithering the carrier centre frequency of the transmitted signal. The procedure controls the radar waveforms so they will optimally perform the classification function, rather than provide an image of best quality. It is shown that a Knowledge-Based engineering approach to determining the waveform of the radar gives considerably improved performance as a classifier of targets (of large radar cross-section), even though the corresponding image is degraded     

一种稳健的利用分布式小卫星获取宽域、高分辨SAR图像的方法

 传统星载合成孔径雷达(SAR)受最小天线面积条件的限制，其横向分辨率与测绘带宽度相矛盾，采用编队飞行的分布式小卫星SAR体制，可解决这一矛盾，即能够同时获得大测绘带、高分辨率的地面场景的SAR图像。主要研究如何在误差环境下抑制由小天线引入的多普勒模糊的信号处理方法。该方法利用子空间投影技术对导向矢量进行精确估计，在小卫星存在基线及其他误差时仍然能够稳健地恢复高分辨的二维SAR图像。     

A new fourth-order processing algorithm for spaceborne SAR

A new fourth-order signal aperture radar (SAR) processing algorithm has been developed for a general satellite-Earth relative motion. The two-dimensional exact transfer function (ETF) is calculated and range-variant phase corrections have been calculated in order to process many azimuth lines per block. The ETF together with the phase corrections has been called the fourth-order EETF (extended ETF). It is also shown that a fourth-order EETF is necessary to process high quality images from spaceborne SAR with long integration times with spatial resolution around 1 m. The algorithm is fast and is anticipated to have good phase preservation properties     

Performance improvement for constellation SAR using signal processing techniques

A new concept of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) implementation has recently been proposed - the constellation of small spaceborne SAR systems. In this implementation, several formation-flying small satellites cooperate to perform multiple space missions. We investigate the possibility to produce high-resolution wide-area SAR images and fine ground moving-target indicator (GMTI) performance with constellation of small spaceborne SAR systems. In particular, we focus on the problems introduced by this particular SAR system, such as Doppler ambiguities, high sparseness of the satellite array, and array element errors. A space-time adaptive processing (STAP) approach combined with conventional SAR imaging algorithms is proposed which can solve these problems to some extent. The main idea of the approach is to use a STAP-based method to properly overcome the aliasing effect caused by the lower pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) and thereby retrieve the unambiguous azimuth wide (full) spectrum signals from the received echoes. Following this operation, conventional SAR data processing tools can be applied to focus the SAR images fully. The proposed approach can simultaneously achieve both high-resolution SAR mapping of wide ground scenes and GMTI with high efficiency. To obtain array element errors, an array auto-calibration technique is proposed to estimate them based on the angular and Doppler ambiguity analysis of the clutter echo. The optimizing of satellite formations is also analyzed, and a platform velocity/PRF criterion for array configurations is presented. An approach is given to make it possible that almost any given sparse array configuration can satisfy the criterion by slightly adjusting the PRF. Simulated results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.     

An extended chirp scaling algorithm for spaceborne sliding spotlight synthetic aperture radar imaging

A system impulse response with low sidelobes is critical in synthetic aperture radar（SAR） images because sidelobes contribute to noise and interfere with nearby scatterers. However,the conventional tricks of sidelobe suppression are unable to be exactly applied to the case of spaceborne sliding spotlight SAR due to great azimuth shifts in both time and frequency domains. In this paper, an extended chirp scaling algorithm is presented for spaceborne sliding spotlight SAR data imaging. The proposed algorithm firstly uses the spectral analysis（SPECAN） technique to avoid the azimuth spectrum folding effect and then employs the chirp scaling（CS） algorithm to achieve data focusing, i.e., the so-called two-step approach. To suppress the sidelobe level, an efficient strategy for the azimuth spectral weighting which only involves matrix multiplications and short fast Fourier transformations（FFTs） is proposed, which is a post-process executed on the focused SAR image and particularly simple to be implemented. The SAR image processed by the proposed extended CS algorithm is very precise and perfectly phase-preserving. In the end, computer simulation results verify the analysis and confirm the validity of the proposed algorithm.     

Super resolution SAR imaging via parametric spectral estimationmethods

Super resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image formation via sophisticated parametric spectral estimation algorithms is considered. Parametric spectral estimation methods are devised based on parametric data models and are used to estimate the model parameters. Since SAR images rather than model parameters are often used in SAR applications, we use the parameter estimates obtained with the parametric methods to simulate data matrices of large dimensions and then use the fast Fourier transform (FFT) methods on them to generate SAR images with super resolution. Experimental examples using the MSTAR and Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) data illustrate that robust spectral estimation algorithms can generate SAR images of higher resolution than the conventional FFT methods and enhance the dominant target features     

一种全自动的检测方法用于SAR-ATI的GMTI

针对星载SAR-ATI处理的中间结果,提出了一种称为"两步-类高斯拟合"完全自适应的检测方法。该方法可以完全自动地实现杂波和噪声中的运动目标检测,避免了传统方法作联合高斯数据的假定,无须推导SAR-ATI干涉图的理论概率密度函数。此外,该方法还可以大大降低系统的虚警概率并用仿真研究了最小可检测速度。     

Conceptual design of near-space synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution and wide-swath imaging

Airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has the capability of high-resolution, and spaceborne SAR has the capability of wide-swath. Inspired by recent advances in near-space defined as the region between 20 km and 100 km, this paper conceptually designed near-space vehicle-borne SAR. The near-space vehicle-borne SAR has the synthetical advantages of the satellite and airplane platforms. By placing SAR transmitter or receiver in near-space vehicles, many functions that are currently performed with satellites or airplanes could be performed in low cost way. These advantages make simultaneous high-resolution and wide-swath SAR imaging possible. As such, this paper focuses on the role of near-space vehicle for high-resolution and wide-swath SAR imaging, and deals with conceptual performance, as opposed to technological implementation. The concepts, models and processing algorithms are provided. To further suppress the azimuth ambiguities and extend swath width, multiple beams in azimuth is applied. Furthermore, an example near-space vehicle-borne SAR is designed. It is shown that the use of cost effective near-space vehicles can provide the solutions that were previously thought to be out of reach for remote sensing scientists and customers.     

Comparison of C- and X-band InSAR data for 3D characterization ofan urban area

In this paper we offer an overview of a number of algorithms suitable for 3D characterization of an urban environment from interferometric SAR data. By means of these algorithms we compare fine resolution C- and X-band SAR measurements over the same area to understand what useful information can be derived from these measurements. In addition we examine the similarities and differences of these data sets that are acquired with different frequency bands, bandwidths, and radar look direction. These data sets are recorded over Los Angeles, California, by the C-band NASA/JPL AIRSAR system, and by X-band Intermap Star-3i system. We analyze the original range measurements as reconstructed after the phase unwrapping procedure, the bald earth topography that we were able to retrieve, and the 3D shapes of some of the buildings in the UCLA area. Our results show that both data sets provide useful information of urban 3D characteristics. The better ground resolution of the X-band system results in better building shape extraction. Lower resolution of the C-band data, surprisingly, was not a limiting factor for extraction of large building structures. We demonstrate that it is possible to extract the terrain elevation model (bald earth topography), and the heights of large building structures by means of our algorithms     

MOTION COMPENSATION FOR HIGH RESOLUTION AIRBORNE SAR WITH IMU & GPS

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Effects of Reduced SAR Azimuth Processing

Several approaches are evaluated for reducing the large data handling and processing loads associated with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems. The effects of data abbreviation on SAR images were studied theoretically as well as experimentally with SEASAT-A data. Image degradation was measured in terms of azimuth resolution and signal-to-clutter ratio. It was found that the degradation of image quality to data rate reduction is graceful. With high time-bandwidth product signals, little or no azimuth resolution degradation was noticed with several data bandwidth reduction techniques that achieve data reduction factors of up to 8. The signal-to-clutter ratio was found to decrease slowly with increasing reduction in data rate.     

Ambiguities in Spacebornene Synthetic Aperture Radar Systems

Several aspects of range and azimuth (time delay and Doppler) ambiguities in spaceborne synthetic aperture radars (SARs) are examined. An accurate method to evaluate the ratio of the intensities of the ambiguities to that of the signal is described. This method has been applied to the nominal SAR system on SEASAT and the variations of this ratio as a function of orbital latitude and attitude control error are discussed. It is also shown that the detailed range migration-azimuth phase history of an ambiguity is different from that of a signal. The images of ambiguities are, therefore, dispersed. Several examples of such dispersed images observed by the SEASAT SAR are presented. These dispersions are eliminated when the processing parameters are adjusted appropriately. Finally, a method is described which uses a set of multiple pulse repetition frequencies to determine the absolute values of the Doppler centroid frequencies for SARs with high carrier frequencies and relatively poor attitude measurements.     

An improved imaging algorithm for spaceborne MAPs sliding spotlight SAR with high-resolution wide-swath capability

Conventional synthetic aperture radar(SAR) systems cannot achieve both highresolution and wide-swath imaging simultaneously.This problem can be mitigated by employing multiple-azimuth-phases(MAPs) technology for spaceborne sliding spotlight SAR systems.However, traditional imaging algorithms have met challenges to process the data accurately, due to range model error, MAPs data reconstruction problem, high-order cross-coupling phase error and variation of Doppler parameters along the azimuth direction.Therefore, an improved imaging algorithm is proposed for solving the above problems.Firstly, a modified hyperbolic range equation(MHRE) is proposed by introducing a cubic term into the traditional hyperbolic range equation(THRE).And two curved orbit correction methods are derived based on the proposed range model.Then, a MAPs sliding spotlight data reconstruction method is introduced, which solves the spectral aliasing problem by a de-rotation operation.Finally, high-order cross-coupling phases and variation of Doppler parameters are analyzed and the corresponding compensation methods are proposed.Simulation results for point-target scene are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Performance of spaceborne bistatic synthetic aperture radar

This paper reports on a model developed for evaluating major system performance of a spaceborne bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for remote sensing applications. The procedure accounts for formation flying aspects. It is particularly aimed at comparison of monostatic and bistatic cases, and, as a test case, it is applied to study a novel configuration, based on a small satellite equipped with a receiving-only antenna orbiting in tandem with a large, noncooperative transmitting spacecraft, the Italian COSMO-SkyMed mission. Numerical results and plots show the effectiveness of the procedure as a mission design tool and put in evidence key issues and characteristics of the proposed spaceborne bistatic formation.     

VSAR: a high resolution radar system for ocean imaging

The velocity synthetic aperture radar (VSAR) is a conceptual synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based sensor system for high resolution ocean imaging. The VSAR utilizes data collected by a multielement SAR system, to extract information not only about the radar reflectivity of the observed area, but also about the radial velocity of the scatterers in each pixel. This is accomplished by making use of the phase information contained in multiple SAR images, and not just the magnitude information as in conventional SAR. Using this velocity information, the VSAR attempts to compensate for the velocity distortion inherent in conventional SAR and to reconstruct the ocean reflectivity. We present the basic theory of the VSAR system and its performance. We also provide an analysis of the VSAR imaging mechanism for a statistical model of the radar returns, designed to capture the effects of speckle and of resolution degradation due to the decorrelation of the radar returns     

Spaceborne along-track SAR interferometry: performance analysis andmission scenarios

A system study of a spaceborne along-track synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometer is presented. This sensor has been successfully experienced for detecting moving targets by using only airborne installations. Several key issues must be addressed when spaceborne configurations are envisaged. To this end, a quantitative evaluation of system performance and measurement accuracy has been conducted. First, the identification of possible space configurations has been accomplished. In particular, the two antennas can operate on a single satellite or they can be carried along appropriate trajectories by two spacecrafts. Then, an error budget of radial velocity measurement accuracy has been performed. Finally, two possible mission scenarios are dealt in details, and numerical results are reported     

运动补偿用惯性器件误差对SAR成像分辨率的影响研究

 为提高合成孔径雷达（SAR）系统的性价比，必须根据SAR成像分辨率的要求和整体系统参数，设计相应精度的运动补偿用捷联惯导系统。在确定SAR运动补偿系统方案和安装方式的基础上，分析不同方向的加速度计和陀螺仪误差对天线相位中心位置测量误差的影响，并利用位置测量误差与SAR成像分辨率之间的关系，进一步明确了不同方向的加速度计和陀螺仪对SAR成像分辨率的影响。研究表明：基于SAR的工作原理和安装方式，x方向加速度计和y方向陀螺仪对SAR成像分辨率的影响明显比其他惯性器件严重；相同误差水平的惯性器件对SAR成像分辨率的影响随着合成孔径时间和工作波长的不同而不同，时间越长，波长越短，影响则越严重。SAR成像仿真证明了结论的正确性。研究结果对于研制高性价比SAR成像运动补偿系统有一定的理论指导意义。     

SAR幅度图像统计模型及其参数估计

对适用于复杂场景SAR幅度图像的乘积模型统计特征进行了深入的分析,导出了其概率分布的一般形式,在单视情况下讨论了三种参数估计方法。MSTAR数据的统计分析结果表明该模型对于高分辨力的SAR图像有较好的适用性。     

基于迁移学习的SAR目标超分辨重建

针对合成孔径雷达(SAR)目标超分辨重建问题,提出了一种基于迁移学习的超分辨方法。在光学图像梯度域中联合训练超完备字典与稀疏编码映射,利用半耦合字典联系SAR图像与光学图像,寻找SAR图像在半耦合字典下的稀疏编码,并在高分辨率字典下完成重建。结合SAR图像的先验信息,使用正则化方法对SAR目标进行特征增强。所提方法在TerraSAR-X数据和MSTAR数据上进行了仿真实验,重建结果表明,相比目前的插值方法和稀疏表示方法,所提方法空间分辨率可提高0.5~1.5个像素。正则化增强结果表明,引入稀疏先验的正则化增强能够进一步提高空间分辨率并抑制杂波比,最后分析了正则化参数的选取对图像质量的影响。