Target Simulations for High Resolution SAR Systems

Abstract

SAR systems with a high spatial resolution require new simulation concepts, because due to their very long synthetic aperture additional image effects have to be accounted for. This paper presents three different concepts to simulate targets imaged by high resolution SAR systems. One concept is given through a conventional numerical raw data generation, which gives realistic image data but is also very time consuming. The second concept uses the reflectivity distribution of the targets in conjunction with the SAR system’s impulse response for image generation. This methodology is significantly faster, but loses on realism in the case of high resolution systems. The third concept eliminates this drawback by using several reflectivity distributions and therefore also includes high resolution effects. The images generated this way match considerably better to reality as can be seen from the simulation results and comparisons with data from tower turntable measurements.