CoCoNaut Polarimetric SAR Signature Trial. Small Vessels of Opportunity Collections off Tofino, BC

Abstract

This memorandum addresses DRDC Ottawa design, experimentation, and data collection components in the CoCoNaut airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) trial conducted off Vancouver Island, BC, 15 September - 4 October, 2004, in conjunction with a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) deployment. Several controlled ships (commercial, military and Coast Guard) and land-based vehicles were instrumented as targets for polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) and Moving Target Indication (MTI) data acquisitions. C-band SAR imagery was collected using the sensor on Environment Canada's CV-580 platform, with a radar calibration site was established at the Tofino Airport (CYAZ). Ground-truthing for targets of opportunity was highly desired and supporting efforts made to identify them through contact tracking and photography, employing CP-140 maritime patrol aircraft, aerial creel survey flights, Marine Communications and Traffic Service, contracted aerial photography flights, and the Recognized Maritime Picture (RMP). Twenty lines of PoISAR data were collected, each covering a wide swath containing maritime targets of opportunity and all include the calibration site at CYAZ. Eight also contain a controlled CCG vessel exhibiting various speeds, incidence angles and aspect angles. Thirty-two lines of MTI data were collected. Sixteen contain controlled maritime targets, seven contain controlled land-based vehicles, four (one maritime, three land) contain only targets of opportunity, and five are calibration lines. Three further flights of PoISAR imagery were collected by CSA, each including a calibration pass over CYAZ. A representative analysis of a maritime target in PoISAR imagery is provided.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA462997

Entities

People

  • Chen Liu
  • David Schlingmeier
  • Paris W. Vachon
  • Ryan A. English

Organizations

  • Defence Research and Development Canada

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aerial Photography
  • Aircrafts
  • Cameras
  • Coast Guard
  • Data Acquisition
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Measurement
  • Mobile Phones
  • National Security
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Radar
  • Radio Frequency
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Maritime Security/Maritime Homeland Security
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects