A nonlinear optimization algorithm for WindSat wind vector retrievals

WindSat is a space-based polarimetric microwave radiometer designed to demonstrate the capability to measure the ocean surface wind vector using a radiometer. We describe a nonlinear iterative algorithm for simultaneous retrieval of sea surface temperature, columnar water vapor, columnar cloud liquid water, and the ocean surface wind vector from WindSat measurements. The algorithm uses a physically based forward model function for the WindSat brightness temperatures. Empirical corrections to the physically based model are discussed. We present evaluations of initial retrieval performance using a six-month dataset of WindSat measurements and collocated data from other satellites and a numerical weather model. We focus primarily on the application to wind vector retrievals.     

一种斜视SAR成像算法

该文详细分析了斜视SAR的成像原理,研究了大斜视SAR与正侧视SAR回波信号的差异,在此基础上,提出了一种高运算效率的成像方法,实现了大斜视SAR成像,并获得较好的图像分辨力。     

一种新的SAR自动增益控制的算法

该文从合成孔径雷达(SAR)系统接收过程的信号模型出发,推导出了适用于SAR系统的理想的自动增益控制算法。通过对比理想的自动增益控制算法和目前通用的传统增益控制算法,发现它们各有利弊。该文根据工程实际,利用最大似然估值的方法,提出了一种能够发扬这两种方法的优点,并克服它们弊端的增益控制的新算法。经过计算机仿真,结果令人满意。     

一种新的SAR图像分块匹配算法

当SAR图像噪声过强时,采用归一化积相关算法得到的相关面对比性较差,匹配结果可靠性降低。为解决此问题,给出一种新的SAR图像分块匹配算法。该算法将实时图分块并分别与基准图进行匹配,利用分块图像之间的相关性来找正确匹配点,增强了匹配结果的可靠性。实验证实该算法在实时图有强噪声的情况下依然可以正确匹配。     

Validating a scatterometer wind algorithm for ERS-1 SAR

The ocean surface wind field is observed from space operationally using scatterometry. The European Space Agency's (ESAs) ERS-1 satellite scatterometer routinely produces a wind product that is assimilated into forecast models. Scatterometry cannot give accurate wind estimates close to land, however, because the field of view of a spaceborne scatterometer is on the order of 50 km. Side lobe contamination, due to the large contrast in backscatter between land and water, compounds the problem. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can provide wind speed and direction estimates on a finer scale, so that high-resolution wind fields can be constructed near shore. An algorithm has been developed that uses the spectral expression of wind in SAR imagery to estimate wind direction and calibrated backscatter to estimate wind strength. Three versions, based on C-band scatterometer algorithms, are evaluated for accuracy in potential operational use. Algorithm estimates are compared with wind measurements from buoys in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Strait, and off the Pacific Northwest coast by using a data set of 61 near-coincident buoy and ERS-1 SAR observations. Representative figures for the accuracy of the algorithm are ±2 m/s for wind speed and ±37° for wind direction at a 25-km spatial resolution     

SAR图像上舰船目标检测的一种新算法

提出了一种改进的KSW算法检测SAR图像上的舰船目标.在该算法中,检测门限被选择以最大化背景与目标灰度熵加权和.由于加权系数的引入,该算法能针对SAR图像上舰船目标检测的实际情况,调整背景与目标灰度熵在准则函数中所占比例.当海杂波较弱时,该算法与传统的KSW算法等价.当海杂波较强时,其较传统的KSW算法有更好的表现.     

A new dynamic finite-state vector quantization algorithm for imagecompression

The picture quality of conventional memory vector quantization techniques is limited by their supercodebooks. This paper presents a new dynamic finite-state vector quantization (DFSVQ) algorithm which provides better quality than the best quality that the supercodebook can offer. The new DFSVQ exploits the global interblock correlation of image blocks instead of local correlation in conventional DFSVQs. For an input block, we search the closest block from the previously encoded data using the side-match technique. The closest block is then used as the prediction of the input block, or used to generate a dynamic codebook. The input block is encoded by the closest block, dynamic codebook or supercodebook. Searching for the closest block from the previously encoded data is equivalent to expand the codevector space; thus the picture quality achieved is not limited by the supercodebook. Experimental results reveal that the new DFSVQ reduces bit rate significantly and provides better visual quality, as compared to the basic VQ and other DFSVQs.     

一种新的海洋风场矢量估计算法

基于合成孔径雷达(SAR)图像的海面风场估计已经得到广泛认可。多数风速反演算法是以估计的风向、校正的δvv为先验条件,应用海风模型计算而得的。在相同风向的情况下,应用不同的海风模型会得到不同的风速反演值,因此选择合适的模型是风场估计的关键。同时,风向数据的精确度也很重要,即使不大的误差也会给风速的反演结果带来明显偏差。为解决上述问题这里提出一种不需要预先已知风向数据的风场估计算法。该算法将基于海洋SAR图像中风浪的条纹信息,以及风浪条纹生成的自相关函数的周期性估计风速数据,同时由风浪条纹的最短周期方向估计风向数据,从而估计出完整的风场矢量。仿真结果显示,该算法对风速和风向数据有较高的估计精度。     

A new hypersphere support vector machine algorithm

The hypersphere support vector machine is a new algorithm in pattern recognition. By studying three kinds ofhypersphere support vector machines, it is found that their solutions are identical and the margin between two classes of samples is zero or is not unique. In this letter, a new kind ofhypersphere support vector machine is proposed. By introducing a parameter n（n〉1）, a unique solution of the margin can be obtained.Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve better generalization performance.     

An emissivity-based wind vector retrieval algorithm for the WindSat polarimetric radiometer

The Naval Research Laboratory WindSat polarimetric radiometer was launched on January 6, 2003 and is the first fully polarimetric radiometer to be flown in space. WindSat has three fully polarimetric channels at 10.7, 18.7, and 37.0 GHz and vertically and horizontally polarized channels at 6.8 and 23.8 GHz. A first-generation wind vector retrieval algorithm for the WindSat polarimetric radiometer is developed in this study. An atmospheric clearing algorithm is used to estimate the surface emissivity from the measured WindSat brightness temperature at each channel. A specular correction factor is introduced in the radiative transfer equation to account for excess reflected atmospheric brightness, compared to the specular assumption, as a function wind speed. An empirical geophysical model function relating the surface emissivity to the wind vector is derived using coincident QuikSCAT scatterometer wind vector measurements. The confidence in the derived harmonics for the polarimetric channels is high and should be considered suitable to validate analytical surface scattering models for polarized ocean surface emission. The performance of the retrieval algorithm is assessed with comparisons to Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) wind vector outputs. The root mean square (RMS) uncertainty of the closest wind direction ambiguity is less than 20/spl deg/ for wind speeds greater than 6 m/s and less than 15/spl deg/ at 10 m/s and greater. The retrieval skill, the percentage of retrievals in which the first-rank solution is the closest to the GDAS reference, is 75% at 7 m/s and 85% or higher above 10 m/s. The wind speed is retrieved with an RMS uncertainty of 1.5 m/s.     

Ku- and C-band SAR for discriminating agricultural crop and soilconditions

A method is proposed to estimate both green leaf area index (GLAI) and soil moisture (h_v), based on radar measurements at the Ku-band (14.85 GHz) and C-band (5.35 GHz) frequencies. The Ku-band backscatter at large incidence angles was found to be independent of soil moisture conditions and could be used alone to estimate GLAI. Then, the Ku-band estimate of GLAI could be used with a measurement of C-band backscatter in a canopy radiative transfer model to isolate the value of h_v. This concept was demonstrated with a set of Kuand C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter data acquired over agricultural fields in Arizona. The demonstration showed promise for operational application of the method, though several limitations were identified. Since both Ku- and C-band σ_° are sensitive to soil roughness, this approach must be applied only to fields of similar soil roughness or row direction. This limitation may be less serious for farm management applications since crop type and cultivation practices are generally well known and can be taken into consideration. Another limitation of the use of Ku- and C-band σ° is the apparent saturation of the Ku-band signal with increasing GLAI. Operational implementation of this approach will require dual-frequency sensors aboard an aircraft or orbiting satellite     

A new clustering algorithm applicable to multispectral andpolarimetric SAR images

The authors applied a scale-space clustering algorithm to the classification of a multispectral and polarimetric SAR image of an agricultural site. After the initial polarimetric and radiometric calibration and noise cancellation, a 12-dimensional feature vector for each pixel was extracted from the scattering matrix. The clustering algorithm partitioned a set of unlabeled feature vectors from 13 selected sites, each site corresponding to a distinct crop, into 13 clusters without any supervision. The cluster parameters were then used to classify the whole image. The classification map is much less noisy and more accurate than those obtained by hierarchical rules. Starting with every point as a cluster, the algorithm works by melting the system to produce a tree of clusters in the scale space. It can cluster data in any multidimensional space and its insensitive to variability in cluster densities, sizes and ellipsoidal shapes. This algorithm, more powerful than existing ones, may be useful for remote sensing for land use     

基于距离-多普勒算法的机载大斜视SAR成像

根据机载大斜视SAR距离走动较大的特点,通过在方位时域和频域分别校正部分距离走动,结合二次距离压缩和方位三次匹配,提出了基于RD算法的机载大斜视SAR成像算法,该算法能有效的克服聚焦深度和方位时间-带宽积的限制。成像实验的结果表明,该算法可应用于斜视角较大的机载SAR成像系统。     

C-band repeat-pass interferometric SAR observations of the forest

Properties of ERS-1 C-band repeat pass interferometric SAR information for a forested area are studied. The intensity information is rather limited but, including coherence and effective interferometric SAR (INSAR) height, more information about the forest parameters can be obtained via satellite. Such information is also important for correction of INSAR derived topographic maps. Coherence properties have been used to identify forested/nonforested areas and the interferometric effective height of the forest determined by comparison to a DEM of the area. The authors have developed a model to relate basic forest properties to INSAR observations. These show that the coherence and interferometric effective height of a forested area change between image pairs. The model demonstrates how these properties are related to the temporal decorrelation and the scattering from the vegetation canopy and the ground surface. Gaps in the vegetation are found to be important in the characterization of boreal forests     

Airborne C-band SAR measurements of wet snow-covered areas

Using polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data at C-band, the optimum polarization and range incidence angles for the classification of land covers found in the James Bay area, P.Q., Canada-open areas, lakes ice, and forests, all covered with wet snow-have been examined. The separability between classes shows that they can be classified by a single polarization. For &thetas;<30°, the overall classification accuracies were 97.1, 98, and 90.8% from HH-, cross, and VV-polarizations alone, respectively. They were greater than 99% for all polarizations at &thetas;>30°. However, the polarimetric parameters were not suitable for classification     

A new algorithm for surface deformation monitoring based on small baseline differential SAR interferograms

We present a new differential synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry algorithm for monitoring the temporal evolution of surface deformations. The presented technique is based on an appropriate combination of differential interferograms produced by data pairs characterized by a small orbital separation (baseline) in order to limit the spatial decorrelation phenomena. The application of the singular value decomposition method allows us to easily "link" independent SAR acquisition datasets, separated by large baselines, thus increasing the observation temporal sampling rate. The availability of both spatial and temporal information in the processed data is used to identify and filter out atmospheric phase artifacts. We present results obtained on the data acquired from 1992 to 2000 by the European Remote Sensing satellites and relative to the Campi Flegrei caldera and to the city of Naples, Italy, that demonstrate the capability of the proposed approach to follow the dynamics of the detected deformations.     

A new image coding algorithm using variable-rate side-matchfinite-state vector quantization

A new side-match vector quantizer, NewSMVQ, is presented in this paper. Three techniques are incorporated to improve the image quality, encoding speed, and bit rate for compressing images. The experimental result shows: i) the encoding time of NewSMVQ is almost 7 times faster than that of SMVQ (ordinary fixed-rate side-match vector quantizer) and CSMVQ (variable-rate SMVQ) and ii) NewSMVQ outperforms SMVQ and CSMVQ in terms of bit rate versus image quality tradeoffs.     

A practical vector control algorithm for μ-based induction motordrives using a new space vector current controller

In this paper, a very simple vector control algorithm is proposed for μ-based induction motor drives. The proposed method controls the motor torque directly and linearly to achieve instantaneous torque response without oscillation. The merits of this control method include its simple architecture and obviating the coordinate transformation. At the same time, a new space vector-based current controller is proposed to serve as a quick response torque controller of the proposed drive system. In addition to the current error, information on the current error derivative is further employed so that one can take more advantages of adding the zero voltage vector for reducing the switching frequency. As a result, the efficiency can be greatly increased. It is seen that through integration of the above two parts, the proposed drive system is very simple to implement and has very good performance     

EMISAR: an absolutely calibrated polarimetric L- and C-band SAR

EMISAR is a high-resolution (2×2 m), fully polarimetric, dual-frequency (L- and C-band) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system designed for remote-sensing applications. The SAR is operated at high altitudes on a Gulfstream G-3 jet aircraft. The system is very well calibrated and has low sidelobes and low cross-polar contamination. Digital technology has been utilized to realize a flexible and highly stable radar with variable resolution, swath width, and imaging geometry. Thermal control and several calibration loops have been built into the system to ensure system stability and absolute calibration. Accurately measured antenna gains and radiation patterns are included in the calibration. The processing system is developed to support data calibration, which is the key to most of the current applications. Recent interferometric enhancements are important for many scientific applications     

一种任意构型双基合成孔径雷达成像算法

针对任意构型双基合成孔径雷达成像问题,提出了基于四阶精确传递函数的任意构型双基OMEGA-K成像算法。该算法应用四阶精确传递函数思想,首先把收发斜距历程展开至四阶泰勒级数,通过直接求解驻相点方程得到驻相点,进而获得具有较高精度的双基二维谱。通过对二维谱的处理,结合单基OMEGA-K成像算法思想,推导出任意构型的双基OMEGA-K成像算法,分析了不变区域大小。给出了算法步骤,仿真实验表明:该算法有较好的聚焦性能,可用于较为极端的双基构型。