Ship Detection Performance Predictions for Next Generation Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radars

Abstract

Following success in other areas as a remote sensor, the spaceborne microwave image radars are assuming a notable position in the problem of ship detection for civilian and military purposes. This work will discuss the strong and weak points of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) when used for ship detection. First, the thesis gives a brief description of SAR fundamentals, image processing and the parameters for ship detection. Second, the actual techniques, limitations, errors and some models used for ship detection are described. Finally, using a well-known and reliable ship detection model (Vachon et al. 1997), tested in the Canadian Ocean Monitoring Workstation and in some validation field programs, the new generation of spaceborne SARs, mainly RADARSAT 2, are analyzed for ship detection capabilities. During the analysis parameters like wind velocity, wind direction related to the antenna, satellite incident angle and Number of Looks are changed to study their influence on ship detection.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA401677

Entities

People

  • Marcus V. Da Silva Simoes

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Data Processing
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Geometry
  • Image Processing
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Radar
  • Radar Cross Sections
  • Remote Sensing
  • Scattering
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Wind
  • Wind Velocity

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects