A New Look at the Bistatic-to-Monostatic Conversion for Tandem SAR Image Formation

The bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, which are converted into equivalent monostatic data by proper preprocessing, can be processed by standard monostatic focusing algorithms. The dip moveout (DMO) approach, which is derived from seismic data processing, converts the bistatic data into equivalent monostatic data by a short time-domain Rocca's smile operator. A 2-D exact point-target (PT) reference spectrum is derived in this letter for tandem bistatic configuration. The geometry-based bistatic formulation is shown to be actually equivalent to Rocca's smile operator, although they are derived from the pure SAR and geophysics points of view, respectively. Moreover, the new PT spectrum can be extended to deal with azimuth-invariant bistatic SAR data. Interpretations on the equivalent monostatic range wavenumber are presented in this letter, which help understand the conversion from the radar signal processing viewpoint.      

A Two-Dimensional Spectrum for General Bistatic SAR Processing

This letter derives a 2-D point target spectrum for general bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR). For the bistatic configuration, the contributions of the transmitter and the receiver to the overall instantaneous Doppler are unequal due to the different slant range histories. In this letter, an instantaneous Doppler contribution ratio is proposed to represent the difference between the instantaneous Doppler contributions of the transmitter and the receiver, which varies with instantaneous Doppler and range frequency. Then, the 2-D spectrum is obtained by using the stationary phase principle and Taylor series expansion for general bistatic SAR. The accuracy of the spectrum is verified with a point target simulation of different general bistatic configurations.      

机载双基地SAR实测数据成像

建立双基地SAR的单基地等效模型,分析了系统时间同步误差的机理;提出了双基地SAR回波中的直达波数据进行时间同步误差校正的算法;在双基地SAR单站等效模型的基础上,利用时变阶梯变换算法进行成像处理。经过理论分析,实测数据处理验证,这一算法是有效的,能够校正双基地SAR时间同步误差,较好地进行实测数据的成像处理。     

A Two-Dimensional Spectrum for Bistatic SAR Processing Using Series Reversion

This letter derives the two-dimensional point target spectrum for an arbitrary bistatic synthetic aperture radar configuration. The method described makes use of series reversion, the method of stationary phase, and Fourier transform pairs to derive the point target spectrum. The accuracy of the spectrum is controlled by keeping enough terms in the two series expansions, and is verified with a point target simulation     

Spaceborne Bistatic SAR Processing Using the EETF4 Algorithm

In this letter, the fourth-order extended exact transfer function (EETF4) is adapted for spaceborne bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing. The problems with high squint and large bistatic Doppler centroid variations are analyzed, and it is shown that if both transmitter and receiver are highly squinted in the same direction, then it may be demanding to achieve perfect quality of the point targets. It is shown that if both transmitter and receiver have high squint in opposite directions with small Doppler centroid variations, then the SAR image can be processed very precisely.     

A Weighted Algorithm for Estimating Chlorophyll-a Concentration from Turbid Waters

Accurately estimating phytoplankton Chlorophyll-a(Chla) concentration from remotely sensed data is particularly challenging in turbid, productive waters. In this study, a weighted Chla concentration algorithm (WCA) are constructed to smooth the performance of three-bands semi-analytical algorithm(TSA) and four-bands semi-analytical algorithm(FSA). The performance of WCA, TSA and FSA algorithms are calibrated and validated by three independently datasets collected from Chesapeake Bay, USA, Yellow River Estuary, China, and Taihu Lake, China. Results of this study indicated that: (1) The accuracy and stability of TSA, FSA and WCA in Chesapeake Bay have a superior performance than it in Taihu Lake and Yellow River Estuary; (2) In Taihu Lake and Yellow River Estuary, the TSA and FSA algorithms are not stable for estimating Chla concentration, especially in Taihu Lake, the accuracy and stability of TSA, FSA and WCA algorithms are quite bad; (3) The WCA can greatly improve the accuracy and stability of TSA and FSA algorithms, but it is greatly depended on the performance of TSA and FSA algorithms; and (4) Although the TSA, FSA and WCA algorithms are semi-analytical algorithm, however, the optimal bands, accuracy and stability of these algorithms are very timely and located dependence.     

多接收阵合成孔径声纳距离-多谱勒成像方法

Loffeld双基公式将多接收阵合成孔径声纳的系统函数分解为准收发合置项和收发分置畸变项。针对该模型,在二维频域定量分析了相位误差,结果显示该方法能满足高分辨成像。在此基础上提出了一种新的成像方法,首先在二维频域通过距离向数据分块的方式补偿收发分置畸变相位中的距离空变项;然后,在二维时域对各接收阵元的数据进行顺序重排,以实现多阵元数据的收发合置转换;最后,采用距离-多谱勒算法对收发合置转换后的数据进行成像,便得到高分辨图像。仿真和实测数据处理结果验证了该方法的有效性。     

A Chirp Transform Algorithm for Processing Squint Mode FMCW SAR Data

Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a lightweight cost-effective high-resolution airborne imaging radar. In squint case, the frequency scaling algorithm, which is suitable for processing nonchirped raw data, cannot be used directly in FMCW SAR data processing because of low system sampling frequency. On the other hand, the continuous antenna motion of FMCW SAR can cause serious distortions in the reconstructed images. In this letter, an improved algorithm called the chirp transform algorithm is proposed. When the effects of the residual video phase are negligible, the algorithm uses a chirp transform to perform the time scaling operation to alleviate the sampling frequency problem. It requires only fast Fourier transforms and multiplications. The range cell migration introduced by the continuous motion is also compensated completely in range-Doppler domain. The algorithm performances are analyzed and are supported by point target simulation experiments.     

Doppler properties of spaceborne/airborne hybrid bistatic synthetic aperture radar

In this paper,a special geometry case of spaceborne-airborne bistatic SAR(SA-BiSAR) is considered,in which satellite and aircraft flight paths are parallel and their antennas are steering at the strip map.This case is a simple but typical application example,which is applicable for non-cooperative illumination.The integration time of SA-BiSAR system is derived via the motion of transmitter and receiver footprint.In parallel and stripmap mode,Doppler frequency is obtained through the combination be-tween spaceborne and airborne SAR.Other Doppler properties have been envisaged,including Doppler bandwidth and azimuth resolution.The overall simulation experiments are conducted and some characteristics are exhibited.The critical parameters,which have the significant effect on the SA-BiSAR Doppler properties,are extracted by analytical expressions and numerical simulations.In parallel and strip map mode and with reference to ENVISAT-1,SA-BiSAR system possesses the potential of yielding 10 m azi-muth resolution and 0.5 s integration time for C-band via the analysis of simulation results.     

Two-Dimensional Spectrum Matched Filter Banks for High-Speed Spinning-Target Three-Dimensional ISAR Imaging

In this letter, a 3-D inversed synthetic aperture radar imaging algorithm for targets in high-speed spinning is proposed based on 2-D spectrum matched filter (MF) banks. Each spectrum MF bank yields a focused slice for its corresponding scatterers. By extracting the spatial parameters from all slices, the 3-D image of the target can be constructed. Numeric simulation confirms the validity of the algorithm.      

Generation of wide-swath and high-resolution SAR images from multichannel small spaceborne SAR systems

Future spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems will be required to produce high-resolution imagery over a wide area of surveillance. However, the minimum antenna area constraint makes it a contradiction to simultaneously obtain both unambiguous wide-area and high azimuth resolution. To overcome this limitation, a technique has been suggested that combines a broad illumination source with multiple receiving channels. Then, the coherent combination of the recorded multichannel signals will allow for the unambiguous SAR mapping of a wide ground area with fine azimuth resolution. This letter first gives an overview of current research work carried out about the generation of wide-swath and high-resolution SAR images from multichannel small spaceborne SAR systems, and then a space-time adaptive processing (STAP) approach combined with conventional SAR imaging algorithms is presented, which could be of help to overcome the existing difficulties in data processing. The main idea of the approach is to use a STAP-based method to properly overcome the aliasing affect caused by the lower pulse repetition frequency and thereby retrieve the unambiguous azimuth wide (full) spectrum signal from the received signal. Following this operation, conventional SAR data processing tools can be applied to fully focus the SAR images. The performance of the approach is also discussed in this letter. The approach has the advantages of simplicity, robustness, and high efficiency.     

The Effect of the Bistatic Scattering Angle on the High-Frequency Radar Cross Sections of the Ocean Surface

High-frequency (HF) bistatic Doppler cross sections of the ocean surface are examined with respect to their dependency on the bistatic angle. Previously derived results which incorporate a pulsed dipole source and two orders of scatter are considered. It is trivially seen that the first-order result has a linear dependence on the cosine of the bistatic angle. The second-order echo accounts for a double scatter of incident radiation from first-order surface waves - the so-called electromagnetic term - and a single scatter from a second-order ocean wave. The latter, generally referred to as the second-order hydrodynamic term because it originates from coupling between first-order ocean waves, predominates the Doppler continuum in most regions of interest. The analysis presented here verifies that in addition to a cosine-dependent reduction in cross section magnitude with increasing bistatic angle, both components of the second-order scatter tend to zero under the condition of near-forward scatter for bistatic HF radar operation. Of course, this imposes practical limitations on the region over which a bistatically configured HF radar system may be used to remotely sense ocean surface parameters.     

空中目标探测系统信号处理增益分析

针对利用全球导航卫星反射信号(GNSS-R)进行空中目标探测时,信号微弱无法可靠接收的问题,该文提出了一种计算信号处理增益的方法。通过合理设置信号处理算法参数,保证了对微弱信号的后续处理。首先对GNSS-R信号接收链路进行了分析,计算得到了当目标的雷达散射截面(RCS)变化时对应的目标回波功率范围;然后对空中目标上升、平飞和下降三种飞行状态双基地雷达系统几何模型进行了研究,给出了3种飞行状态下对应的有效探测时间,为接收机后续相干/非相干累加算法的处理时间提供阈值限制;最后在阈值范围内,选定合适相关时间,分析了经过相干/非相干累加处理后的反射信号输出信噪比范围。结果表明:在有效探测时间的限制下,相关处理时间取0.6s时,处理后的信噪比在10dB左右,满足一般码跟踪环所需的门限要求,可以保证接收机后续数据处理的顺利进行。     

CMP Antenna Array GPR and Signal-to-Clutter Ratio Improvement

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is recognized as a promising sensor for detecting buried landmines. In this case, the GPR antenna(s) must be elevated above the ground. However, this requirement results in heavy surface clutter. It is therefore necessary to overcome the effect. A commonly used procedure of time gating and background averaging cannot suit to small shallow nonmetallic landmine beneath a rough ground surface. In this letter, we proposed techniques to enhance the target signal through common midpoint (CMP) antenna array and data processing techniques, including velocity spectrum and CMP multifold stacking. The method has been tested using experiment data over a rough ground under which small plastic antipersonnel landmines is shallowly buried. The result shows the signal-to-clutter ratio was dramatically improved.     

GPS天-地无源双基地雷达探测海面移动目标

GNSS卫星作为一种照射源,可与地面接收机构成天-地无源双基地雷达系统,用于海面移动目标探测。但是,海面目标（如船只）反射的GNSS信号能量微弱,常被淹没在背景噪声和干扰信号中。针对这一问题,本文提出利用目标的运动特点聚集目标回波能量的目标探测方法。首先,将船只的运动轨迹看作合成孔径,采用SAR成像技术——距离多普勒算法（range-Doppler algorithm,RDA）实现目标回波能量的压缩聚集,同时抑制干扰信号（如海面杂波）。然后,使用相位梯度自聚焦算法（phase gradient autofocus,PGA）作自聚焦处理,进一步聚集目标回波能量。通过现场试验采集的数据验证了本文算法。试验结果表明,本文方法能够同时聚集多个目标回波能量,精确地估计目标到接收机的距离,并判断目标的移动方向。     

Hyperspectral anomaly detection within the signal subspace

This letter describes the extension of signal subspace processing (SSP) to the arena of anomaly detection. In particular, we develop an SSP-based, local anomaly detector that exploits the rich information available in the multiple bands of a hyperspectral (HS) image. This SSP approach is based on signal processing considerations, and its entire formulation reduces to a straightforward (and intuitively pleasing) geometric and algebraic development. We extend the basic SSP concepts to the HS anomaly detection problem, develop an SSP HS anomaly detector, and evaluate this algorithm using multiple HS data files.     

Three-Dimensional Microwave Tomography by a 2-D Slice-Based Reconstruction Algorithm

This letter deals with the problem of imaging 3-D strong scatterers by means of a 2-D slice tomographic reconstruction algorithm. More in detail, the inversion algorithm is based on two steps. In the first step, 2-D slices of the object are reconstructed; then, they are superimposed and interpolated to achieve the 3-D representation of the object. The Kirchhoff approximation is exploited to develop a linear inversion scheme for reconstructing the 2-D slices for scatterers embedded in the free space. Finally, the inversion algorithm is checked against synthetic data for the interesting case of scatterers resembling the human body.     

Defining a Sea Ice Flag for Envisat Altimetry Mission

This letter presents the development of a sea ice flag algorithm for the Envisat altimetry mission to detect sea ice corrupted sea surface height data within quality control processing. The algorithm takes advantage of having both passive and active microwave sensors on the same platform with coregistered measurements. Its performances have been evaluated based on collocations between the along-track Envisat data with reference maps built from combination of daily grids of sea ice concentration from SSM/I sensors and backscatter cross section from SeaWinds scatterometer on QuikSCAT satellite.     

Quartic-Phase Algorithm for Highly Squinted SAR Data Processing

In this letter, an algorithm based on a quartic-phase model is discussed for processing highly squinted synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from a large range swath. In the algorithm, a precise quartic-phase model is adopted to describe a range-dependent property of the SAR signal; a constant factor and a secondary scaling process are introduced to make the algorithm easy to be utilized compared with traditional nonlinear chirp scaling algorithms. The novel algorithm can process SAR data under a squint angle above 50deg and achieve a focus depth over 60 km     

Feature Evolution for Classification of Remotely Sensed Data

In a number of remote-sensing applications, it is critical to decrease the dimensionality of the input in order to reduce the complexity and, hence, the processing time and possibly improve classification accuracy. In this letter, the application of genetic algorithms as a means of feature selection is explored. A genetic algorithm is used to select a near-optimal subset of input dimensions using a feed-forward multilayer perceptron trained by backpropagation as the classifier. Feature and topology evolution are performed simultaneously based on actual classification results (wrapper approach).