SAR图像质量外场试验与评估技术

SAR图像质量评估是评判SAR系统性能的关键指标,常用SAR图像质量评估参数包括目标分辨率、峰值旁瓣比和积分旁瓣比等。首先介绍了SAR图像质量评估参数的定义;其次分析了SAR图像质量评估参数测试误差,给出了单个角反射体时积分区间对积分旁瓣比的影响,以及多个角反射体时图像质量评估参数测试误差,并进一步给出了定标场地设计要求;最后介绍了SAR图像质量评估软件系统。SAR图像质量评估技术研究已在SAR系统试验中得到应用,开发的评估软件系统在sAR图像质量评估中具有一定的推广价值。     

Calibration of a polarimetric imaging SAR

Calibration using point targets is discussed. The fourport network calibration technique is used to describe the radar error model. The processor ambiguity function and the radar distortion matrices are combined to form a generalized polarimetric ambiguity function. The polarimetric ambiguity function of the SAR is found using a single point target, namely a trihedral corner reflector. Based on the resultant polarimetric ambiguity function, an estimate for the backscattering coefficient of the terrain is found using a modified version of the single target calibration technique (STCT). A radar image recorded by the JPL aircraft SAR, which includes a variety of point targets, is used for verification of the new calibration method. The calibrated responses of the point targets are compared both with theory and responses based on the POLCAL technique     

A Fast and Accurate Far-Field Pseudopolar Format Radar Imaging Algorithm

A novel imaging algorithm to be used under the condition of having an image scene in the far field of a linear radar aperture is presented. This is an application scenario that is drastically different from those of spaceborne and airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems, which has not been properly addressed to date. The technique is particularly tailored for a stepped-frequency continuous wave (CW) or frequency-modulated CW radar. The radar aperture must be linear and can be formed either with a physical or synthetic array. With the suggested method, the radar reflectivity of the image scene is obtained through an interpolation-free series expansion, where only 2-D fast Fourier transforms of the frequency-domain backscatter data are required. The resulting image is sampled on a “polarlike” or pseudopolar grid, which is introduced to simplify the formulation. The main advantages of this method are its extremely low computational cost and the high accuracy of the resulting imagery. The technique is extensively validated both with numerical simulations and two ground-based SAR data sets. Last but not least, numerical simulations show that this technique can be used with an ultrawideband radar of 1 GHz of bandwidth.      

Simulation of ocean waves imaging by an along-track interferometricsynthetic aperture radar

A two-dimensional (2D) model for describing the imaging of ocean waves by an along-track interferometric synthetic aperture radar (AT-INSAR) is derived. It includes the modulation of the normalized radar cross section by the long waves, velocity bunching, and azimuthal image smear due to orbital acceleration associated with long waves and due to the orbital velocity spread within the AT-INSAR resolution cell (parameterized by the scene coherence time). By applying the Monte-Carlo method, AT-INSAR amplitude and phase image spectra are calculated for different sea states and radar configurations. The Monte-Carlo simulations show that velocity bunching affects the AT-INSAR imaging mechanism of ocean waves, and that a unimodal ocean wave spectrum may be mapped into a bimodal AT-INSAR phase image spectrum due to an interference between the velocity term and the velocity bunching term in the AT-INSAR imaging model. It is shown that the AT-INSAR imaging mechanism of ocean waves depends on the ratio of the scene coherence time and the time separation between the observations by the two antennas. If this ratio is larger than one, the AT-INSAR phase image spectra are distorted. Furthermore, the simulations show that the AT-INSAR phase image spectrum is quite insensitive to the ocean wave-radar modulation transfer function. Comparing AT-INSAR with conventional SAR imaging of ocean waves, the authors find that the azimuthal cut-off in AT-INSAR phase image spectra is shifted toward higher wavenumbers than in conventional SAR image spectra. This implies that AT-INSAR can resolve shorter azimuthal wavenumbers than conventional SAR. Thus the authors conclude that AT-INSAR phase images are better suited for measuring ocean waves spectra than conventional SAR images     

Blind-velocity SAR/ISAR imaging of a moving target in a stationarybackground

A synthetic aperture radio/inverse synthetic aperture radar (SAR/ISAR) coherent system model and inversion to image a target moving with an unknown constant velocity in a stationary background are presented. The approach is based on a recently developed system modelling and inversion principle for SAR/ISAR imaging that utilizes the spatial Fourier decomposition of SAR data in the synthetic aperture domain to convert the SAR system model's nonlinear phase functions into linear phase functions suitable for a computationally manageable inversion. It is shown that SAR/ISAR imaging of a moving target can be converted into imaging the target in a stationary squint-mode SAR problem where the parameters of the squint-mode geometry depend on the target's velocity. A method for estimating the moving target's velocity that utilizes a spatial Doppler analysis of the SAR data within overlapping subapertures is presented. The spatial Doppler technique does not require the radar signal to be narrowband, so the reconstructed image's resolution is not sacrificed to improve the target's velocity estimator.     

Application of neural networks for sea ice classification inpolarimetric SAR images

Several automatic methods have been developed to classify sea ice types from fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, and these techniques are generally grouped into supervised and unsupervised approaches. In previous work, supervised methods have been shown to yield higher accuracy than unsupervised techniques, but suffer from the need for human interaction to determine classes and training regions. In contrast, unsupervised methods determine classes automatically, but generally show limited ability to accurately divide terrain into natural classes. In this paper, a new classification technique is applied to determine sea ice types in polarimetric and multifrequency SAR images, utilizing an unsupervised neural network to provide automatic classification, and employing an iterative algorithm to improve the performance. The learning vector quantization (LVQ) is first applied to the unsupervised classification of SAR images, and the results are compared with those of a conventional technique, the migrating means method. Results show that LVQ outperforms the migrating means method, but performance is still poor. An iterative algorithm is then applied where the SAR image is reclassified using the maximum likelihood (ML) classifier. It is shown that this algorithm converges, and significantly improves classification accuracy. The new algorithm successfully identifies first-year and multiyear sea ice regions in the images at three frequencies. The results show that L- and P-band images have similar characteristics, while the C-band image is substantially different. Classification based on single features is also carried out using LVQ and the iterative ML method. It is found that the fully polarimetric classification provides a higher accuracy than those based on a single feature. The significance of multilook classification is demonstrated by comparing the results obtained using four-look and single-look classifications     

Interlook cross-correlation function of speckle in SAR images of sea surface processed with partially overlapped subapertures

In the present paper, a general integral expression is derived and discussed for the cross-correlation function (CCF) of speckle patterns in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images processed by using partially overlapped subapertures of arbitrary Doppler center frequencies (or equivalent azimuth times). It is shown that, under the white noise approximation for the backscattered field, the CCF of the interlook speckle intensity patterns is given by the squared modulus of the autocorrelation function of the amplitude weighting function of subapertures where the time lag is the center time difference. It is also shown that the CCF of the interlook speckle patterns is independent of the surface coherence time of sea surface. The integral expression for the intensity CCF is then evaluated for a rectangular weighting function, and comparison is made with Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) L-band and RADARSAT-1 C-band SAR images of sea surface to test the theory. The CCFs computed from the JERS-1 SAR data show excellent agreement with the theory, and good agreement is obtained with the RADARSAT-1 data.     

Sea surface imaging with an across-track interferometric syntheticaperture radar: the SINEWAVE experiment

An across track interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is used to image ocean waves. Across track InSAR data were acquired during the SAR INnterferometry Experiment for validation of ocean Wave imaging models (SINEWAVE) in the North Sea using an airborne X-band radar with horizontal polarization. A wind sea system was imaged at different flight levels and with different flight directions with respect to the ocean wave propagation direction. Simultaneously, ocean wave spectra were measured by a directional wave rider buoy. Thus, the experiment data comprises synthetic aperture radar (SAR) intensity, coherence, and phase images together with in situ measurements. As shown in a recent theoretical study by Schulz-Stellenfleth and Lehner (2001), across track InSAR provides distorted (bunched) digital elevation models (DEMs) of the sea surface. Using SINEWAVE data the DEM bunching mechanism is verified with in situ ocean wave measurements available for the first time. It is shown that significant waveheight as well as one-dimensional (1D) wavenumber spectra derived from bunched DEMs and buoy data are in good agreement for small nonlinearities. Peak wave directions and peak wavelength detected in bunched DEMs and SAR intensity images are compared with the buoy spectrum. Peak rotations of up to 30° with respect to the buoy spectrum are found depending on flight direction and flight level. Two-dimensional (2D) spectra of bunched DEMs, corresponding coherency maps, and SAR intensity images are intercompared. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of bunched DEM spectra is shown to be about 5 to 10 dB higher than the SNR of SAR intensity image spectra     

一种基于回波相关的无源合成孔径雷达成像方法

利用机会照射源的无源雷达因为可以解决频带拥挤和具有良好的电子对抗性能,是雷达领域的一个研究热点。鉴于大多数机会照射源发射窄带或超窄带的连续波信号,该文研究采用窄带连续波信号的无源合成孔径雷达(SAR)成像。通过不同接收机回波之间进行相关,建立成像的数据模型,并给出一种滤波反投影(FBP)成像算法,详细分析了影响该成像方法分辨率的因素。通过仿真实验,验证了基于回波相关和FBP的无源SAR成像方法。该方法无需发射机位置信息,适用于任意载机飞行轨迹。     

一种星载SAR图像的系统级几何校正技术

在星历参数和星载SAR空间几何模型的基础上，本文实现了星载SAR图像的系统级几何校正，给出了一种基于空间几何模型的星载SAR图像像素定位技术，说明了经纬网中任意点所在距离线被雷达波束中心照射的时刻的估算方法。最后利用仿真数据验证了这种几何校正方法的有效性。     

机载超高分辨率 SAR 内定标技术研究

首先,研究了合成孔径雷达的内定标工作原理,分析了发射定标实测信号;然后,给出了误差补偿前后的一维距离图像性能指标,提出了利用发射定标数据作为参考函数进行实际数据成像处理的方法;最后,成功应用于机载试飞中,获得了高质量合成孔径雷达图像,并证明了该方法的有效性。     

SAR的动目标成像与定位处理

合成孔径雷达（SAR）是一种高分辨成像雷达。当今雷达成像技术已经非常成熟，在国民经济与军事领域中有着广泛的应用。但在SAR成像过程中如何对动目标成像并定位依然是一个值得探讨的课题。该文提出通过求取动目标调频斜率的方法能对动目标更清晰地成像，然后通过多普勒频谱搬移法得到动目标在雷达图像上的定位，使成像质量较高的动目标图像叠加到静止地物雷达图像上。最后通过雷达实测数据进行处理，得到较为满意的结果。     

A wavelet-based algorithm to estimate ocean wave group parameters from radar images

In recent years, new remote sensing techniques have been developed to measure two-dimensional (2-D) sea surface elevation fields. The availability of these data has led to the necessity to extend the classical analysis methods for one-dimensional (1-D) buoy time series to two dimensions. This paper is concerned with the derivation of group parameters from 2-D sea surface elevation fields using a wavelet-based technique. Wave grouping is known to be an important factor in ship and offshore safety, as it plays a role in dangerous resonance phenomenons and the generation of extreme waves. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data are used for the analysis. The wavelet technique is introduced using synthetic ocean surfaces and simulated SAR data. It is shown that the group structure of the ocean wave field can be recovered from the SAR image if the nonlinear imaging effects are moderate. The method is applied to a global dataset of European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-2) wave mode data. Different group parameters including the area covered by the largest group and the number of groups in a given area are calculated for over 33 000 SAR images. Global maps of the parameters are presented. For comparison, classical 1-D grouping parameters are calculated from colocated wave model data showing good overall agreement with the wavelet-derived parameters. ERS-2 image mode data are used to study wave fields in coastal areas. Waves approaching the island of Sylt in the North Sea are investigated, showing the potential of the wavelet technique to analyze the spatial wave dynamics associated with the bottom topography. Observations concerning changes of wavelength and group parameters are compared to linear wave theory.     

Reconsideration of Azimuth Ambiguities in SAR

The traditional method of specifying and controlling azimuth ambiguities in SAR is through integrated energy balance measures. However, the most frequently observed azimuth ambiguities arise from ensembles of strong point reflectors in the principal sidelobes of the antenna, which in turn are aliased into the processed Doppler bandwidth by the radar PRF. This paper considers the dependence of these ambiguities on radar wavelength and PRF. It is shown that such ambiguous image elements are strengthened in proportion to ? 2 and PRF-1. The theoretical structure is based on orbital SAR geometry, including Earth rotation. The work is applied to a SIR-B L-band radar scene in which azimuth ambiguities are clearly observed. The level and spatial position of these ambiguities are measured in the digital image. The results are extrapolated to higher frequency radars such as ERS-1 and Radarsat. It is concluded that for these C-band radars the point azimuth ambiguity restraint is more relevant (and more binding) than the traditional energy balance method.     

Enhanced resolution in Sar/ISAR imaging using iterative sidelobe apodization.

Resolution enhancement techniques in radar imaging have attracted considerable interest in recent years. In this work, we develop an iterative sidelobe apodization technique and investigate its applications to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse SAR (ISAR) image processing. A modified noninteger Nyquist spatially variant apodization (SVA) formulation is proposed, which is applicable to direct iterative image sidelobe apodization without using computationally intensive upsampling interpolation. A refined iterative sidelobe apodization procedure is then developed for image-resolution enhancement. Examples using this technique demonstrate enhanced image resolution in various applications, including airborne SAR imaging, image processing for three-dimensional interferometric ISAR imaging, and foliage-penetration ultrawideband SAR image processing.     

Spectral estimation techniques for multilook SAR images of oceanwaves

When deriving a directional ocean wave spectrum from a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) image of the ocean surface, spectral analysis of the image data is a key step. In this paper, a quantitative comparison of spectral analysis techniques for analysis of multilook SAR image data of ocean waves is presented. Performance is rated using a spectral SNR, defined as the ratio of the desired spectral signature to the speckle noise as it appears in the SAR image spectrum. Spectral techniques considered cover all of those now in use (including SAR processor focus adjustment) as well as new experimental methods. It is shown that the spectral-phase-shift technique, introduced in this paper, is the best approach: it maximizes the spectral SNR, it allows resolution of the 180° directional ambiguity, and it applies simultaneously to all wave components present in the scene     

Refocusing Through Building Walls Using Synthetic Aperture Radar

Through-wall imaging/sensing using a synthetic aperture array technique is studied by employing ultrawideband antennas and for wide incidence angles. The propagation through building walls, such as brick and poured concrete in response to point sources near the walls, is simulated by using high-frequency methods. Reciprocity is used to find the responses of point targets behind walls, which are then used to simulate the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging through the walls. The effect of building walls on the target-image distortions is investigated by simulations and measurements. It is shown that by using the idea of match filtering, the effect of the wall can be compensated for, and the point target response can be reconstructed, provided that the wall parameters are known. An optimization method based on minimization of squared error in the SAR image domain within an area confined within the expected point-spread function is used to estimate the wall parameters and sharpen the image simultaneously. A controlled experiment within the laboratory environment is performed to verify the methods presented. It is shown that for an ultrawideband system operating over a frequency band of 1-3 GHz, highly distorted images of two point targets in close proximity of each other behind a wall can be resolved after refocusing. A dual-frequency synthetic method is also presented that can improve the cross-range resolution of the refocused image.     

基于物理光学方法二面角反射器一维距离像特征信号计算

二面角是众多雷达目标中的典型散射结构,是典型的二次散射体,其特征识别对于复杂目标的识别具有重要意义。首先在频域内应用ＰＯ光学计算方法得到二面角的散射信号,通过ＩＦＴ变换得到时域散射信号。采用幅度调制信号与目标的时域散射信号进行卷积,即得到目标的距离像。一维距离像是二维合成孔径成像的基础。     

基于最小熵DCFT的双基地SAR多普勒参数估计

多普勒参数估计是SAR成像技术研究中的一项关键技术,多普勒参数估计精度将直接影响机载双基地SAR系统成像质量,为了实现对感兴趣目标区域有效地成像,需要对回波信号的参数进行准确估计。本文提出基于最小熵的离散调频傅里叶法(DCFT),该方法基于线性调频信号,可同时估计多普勒质心和多普勒斜率,并用RD算法对双基地SAR仿真数据成像,通过仿真验证了该方法的性能。     

A diagnostic technique used to obtain cross-range radiation centersfrom antenna patterns

A diagnostic technique for obtaining cross-range radiation centers based on antenna radiation patterns is presented. The method is similar to the synthetic aperture processing of scattered fields normally associated with radar applications; however, in this case it is applied to evaluate antenna radiation pattern performance. Coherence processing of the radiated fields is used to determine the various radiation centers associated with the far-zone pattern of an antenna for a given radiation direction. The technique can be used to identify an unexpected radiation center that creates an undesired effect in a pattern. It can also be used to improve a numerical simulation of the pattern by identifying other significant mechanisms. Cross-range results for two 8-ft-diameter reflector antennas are presented to illustrate as well as validate this technique