Performance Of Cesar ERS-1 SAR Processor

The SAR processor of the Norwegian national ERS-1 ground terminal is based on the CESAR vector processor. This paper describes the results from the tests of this processor on image data and on point target data. It has been demonstrated that the processor achieves image quality that meets all Fast Delivery type product requirements. The processor also meets the project goal of processing a 100 by 100 km scene in less than 8 minutes. Some near future improvements both to software and hardware are also described that will give a throughput of one scene in less than 2.5 minutes. The purpose of ithis paper is to present the results from the tests that have been performed in order to qualify the processor. The tests have been aimed at verifying that the image quality of the processor meets the requirements. Since the throughput goals that were establiished early in this project were quite ambitious, the result from ihe throughput measurements are also given.