An Analysis of RADARSAT2 SAR-GMTI Performance for Standard Beam Mode
Abstract
Canada's RADARSAT2 (R2) commercial SAR satellite will have an experimental operating mode that will allow ground moving target indication (GMTI) measurements to he made with received data. This mode is also called MODEX (Moving Object Detection Experiment). In the GMTI or MODEX mode of operation, the spacecraft's radar antenna is partitioned into two apertures that sequentially observe the scene of interest from the same points in space. Data is simultaneously and coherently received from both apertures and is down-linked in parallel channels for processing to extract moving target radial speeds in their SAR image context. This paper provides an analysis of SAR-GMTI performance at the R2 Standard Beam Mode based on computer modeling and simulations. Two SAR-MTI processing approaches are being explored. One utilizes the classical DPCA clutter cancellation technique to provide sub clutter visibility for dim slowly moving targets. The other is based on the along-track (temporal) SAR interferometer technique, where amplitude and phase information of the slow-moving targets are exploited to allow their extraction from the dominant clutter background. Performances of the two approaches are compared. Effects of target signal contamination by background clutter is also examined. The results indicate that the two processing approaches are similar in their GMTI performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA385571
Entities
People
- Shan Chiu
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada