Stationary and moving target shadow characteristics in synthetic aperture radar

Ann Marie Raynal; Douglas L. Bickel; Armin W. Doerry

doi:10.1117/12.2049729

29 May 2014 Stationary and moving target shadow characteristics in synthetic aperture radar

Ann Marie Raynal, Douglas L. Bickel, Armin W. Doerry

Proceedings Volume 9077, Radar Sensor Technology XVIII; 90771B (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049729
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

An occluded or dark region in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, known as a shadow, is created when incident radar energy is obstructed by a target with height from illuminating resolution cells immediately behind the target in the ground plane. Shadows depend on the physical dimensions and mobility of a target, platform and radar imaging parameters, and scene clutter. Target shadow dimensions and intensity can be important radar observables in SAR imagery for target detection, location, and tracking or even identification. Stationary target shadows can provide insight as to the physical dimensions of a target, while moving target shadows may show more accurately the location and motion of the target over time versus Doppler energy which may be shifted or smeared outside the scene. However, SAR shadows prove difficult to capture as a target or platform moves, since the quality of the no-return area may quickly be washed-out in a scene over many clutter resolution cells during an aperture. Prior work in the literature has been limited to describing partial shadow degradation effects from platform or target motion of vehicles such as static target shadow tip or interior degradation during an aperture, or shadow degradation due to target motion solely in cross-range. In this paper, we provide a more general formulation of SAR shadow dimensions and intensity for non-specific targets with an arbitrary motion.

Citation Download Citation

Ann Marie Raynal, Douglas L. Bickel, and Armin W. Doerry "Stationary and moving target shadow characteristics in synthetic aperture radar", Proc. SPIE 9077, Radar Sensor Technology XVIII, 90771B (29 May 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049729

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available