Synthetic aperture radar simulation for image sensitivity assessment

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an all weather sensor that has provided breakthrough remote sensing capabilities for both civilian and military applications. SAR differs from other real-aperture sensors in that it achieves fine resolution using signal processing techniques that are based on certain assumptions about the relative dynamics between the sensor and the scene. When these assumptions are violated, the quality of the SAR imagery degrades, impacting its interpretability. This paper describes the development of a simulation testbed for evaluating the effects of SAR-specific error sources on image quality, including effects that originate with the sensor (e.g. system noise, uncompensated motion), as well as effects that originate in the scene (e.g. target motion, wind-blown trees). The simulation generates synthetic video phase history and can accommodate a variety of sensor collection trajectories, acquisition geometries, and image formation options. The simulation approach will be described, example outputs will be shown, and initial results relating simulation inputs to image quality measures will be presented.