The modeling of forested areas for real and synthetic aperture imaging radar simulation

Provides a discussion of several procedures for generating elevation and terrain category database information for the modeling of deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forested areas. Specifically, techniques for the geometric modeling of individual pine and oak trees, based on measured or estimated location, height, and canopy diameter are presented. Techniques for randomly populating forested areas at user specified densities with individual trees are discussed. Considerable simulated imagery has been developed for both solid canopy forest and individual tree forest models. In the case of forests modeled as collections of individual trees, imagery has been developed for forests with varying tree densities. Simulated image presentations (grey level and pseudo-color) include sidelooking SAR range and ground range imagery and forward scan B-Scope and P-Scope range and ground range imagery. All modeling and simulation was accomplished using the Synthetic Aperture Reconnaissance, Tactical, And Camouflage (SARTAC) imaging radar simulation and analysis tool developed at the University of Nevada with the support of the US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (USACE/CRREL) and the US Army Corps of Engineers Waterway Experiment Station (USACE/WES).