Innovative Phenomenology Characterization and Advanced Algorithms

"Black River Systems Co., Inc. and Polatin Corporation propose to develop algorithmic models, data collection methodologies and a proof-of-concept prototype data collection system to accurately characterize the dielectric constants of foliage at VHF/UHFfrequencies and subsurface geologies at HF frequencies with the ultimate goal of exploiting these characteristics to improve false alarm control, interference mitigation and adaptive target detection. An integrated multi-phase development plan ispresented to build on Polatin Corporation's physics-based, radar terrain simulation technology and Black River System's hardware/software development capability. The primary emphasis includes: (1) development of conceptual measurement techniques forwideband characterization of dielectric constants, (2) design of a dielectric measurement system, possibly a probe or scatterometer system, for trees and bare ground, (3) estimation of the dielectric function of trees and bare ground usingstate-of-the-art simulation technology and previously measured HF/VHF/UHF radar data, (4) cross-validation of existing dielectric function models and the radar simulator at low frequencies, and (5) formulation of an integrated system for foliagepenetration and ground penetrating waveform development, signal processing and data analysis. Based upon the results of the research, false alarm control, interference mitigation and adaptive detection algorithms will be