Focusing SAR data acquired from non-linear sensor trajectories

Abstract

Standard focusing of SAR data assumes a straight recording
track of the sensor platform. Small non-linearities of airborne platform tracks are corrected for during a motion compensation step while keeping the assumption of a linear flight path. In the following, the processing of SAR data from nonlinear tracks is discussed as may originate from small aircraft or drones flying at low altitude. They fly not a straight track but one dependent on topography, influences of weather and wind, or dependent on the shape of dedicated areas of interest such as rivers or traffic routes. A time-domain backprojection ,based technique, is proposed and evaluated with the help of experimental data featuring a drop in height, a double bend, a 90-degree curve and a linear flight track. In order to assess the quality of the focused data, close-ups of amplitude images are compared and the coherence is evaluated.
The experimental data was acquired by the German Aerospace Center’s E-SAR L-band system.