Ship detection performance assessment for simulated RCM SAR data

In this paper, we introduce the first analysis of ship detection performance using simulated RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) data in the Ship Detection, Low and Medium Resolution modes. The ship detection performance is assessed for a number of linear and compact polarimetric (CP) dual-polarimetric (dual-pol) systems data simulated from RADARSAT-2 Fine quad mode in the three RCM modes. The impact of the ship orientation with respect to the radar beam and the effect of the imaging mode incidence angle on the ship detection performance are investigated. It has been found that the compact polarimetric SAR detectors outperform the linear dual-pol ones at all RCM modes for medium to high beam incidence angle range. The study findings suggest that the three RCM modes generally and the Ship Detection mode in particular are promising compromise between high ship detection performance and the wide swath width desired for ship surveillance application when acquired with medium to high incidence angle beams.