Optimal polarimetric processing for enhanced target detection

Author

Novak, L.M. ; Burl, M.C. ; Irving, W.W.

Author_Institution

MIT Lincoln Lab., Lexington, MA, USA

Volume

29

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

1/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

234

Lastpage

244

Abstract

The results of a study of several polarimetric target detection algorithms are summarized. The algorithms were tested using real target-in-clutter data collected by the Lincoln Laboratory 35 GHz synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor. Fully polarimetric measurements (HH, HV, VV) are processed into intensity imagery using adaptive and nonadaptive polarimetric whitening filters (PWFs). Then a two-parameter constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector is run over the imagery to detect the targets. Nonadaptive PWF processed imagery is shown to provide better protection performance than either adaptive PWF processed imagery or single-polarimetric-channel HH imagery. In addition, nonadaptive PWF processed imagery is shown to be visually clearer than adaptive processed imagery

Keywords

adaptive systems; filtering and prediction theory; image processing; microwave imaging; polarimetry; radar theory; synthetic aperture radar; 35 GHz; Lincoln Laboratory; adaptive filter; enhanced target detection; intensity imagery; microwave radar; nonadaptive polarimetric whitening filters; optimal processing; polarimetric measurements; polarimetric target; real target-in-clutter data; synthetic aperture radar; two-parameter constant false alarm rate; Image resolution; Image sensors; Laboratories; Object detection; Radar antennas; Radar cross section; Radar detection; Radar imaging; Speckle; Synthetic aperture radar;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9251

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/7.249129

Filename

249129