Using Varying Orbits to Perform Coherent Change Detection

Coherent Change Detection (CCD) combines two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images of a scene taken at different times and creates a new image that highlights the differences between the SAR images.  Current CCD radar techniques require the platform to fly the same orbit path repeatedly in order to collect multiple images of the scene from the same geometry.  Once the images are collected, however, alignment can be difficult to achieve due to a variety of factors.  IMSAR is proposing to augment the capabilities of our Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-9 CCD mode to support the collection SAR CCD data using randomized and non-repeating orbits.  IMSAR will perform a data collection and then analyze the data using several CCD processing variations.  IMSAR will also further develop its current state-of-the-art CCD algorithms to push the boundaries of CCD and make them less stringent than currently required.