Multi-Phase Center SAR Processing for Foliage Canopy Suppression

The capability of airborne SARs to perform foliage penetration is severely limited by the strength of the foliage canopy return. The capability exists for enhancing the detection of selected targets hidden beneath the foliage canopy through the use ofmulti-phase center (aperture) data. The objective of this Phase II effort is to demonstrate three innovative algorithms to mitigate the effect of the foliage canopy return with multi-aperture data. The three new algorithms to be studied by the TechnologyService Corporation/SRI International team include elevation nulling, advanced IFSAR processing and volumetric imaging. The techniques will focus on the use of spatial adaptive processing, extended complex indicated angle processing and the time domainback projection algorithm. During the Phase II effort, TSC/SRI will refine their algorithms through analysis, single-pixel simulations and the processing of synthetic SAR images. Following these refinements, the robust algorithms will be applied toactual radar data to provide enhanced SAR imagery that demonstrates the suppression of the foliage canopy return.