Target aspect feature extraction and application from multi-aspect high resolution SAR

This paper considers techniques of aspect feature extraction and application of targets taken over one or more wide-angle apertures. Compared with traditional narrow-aperture Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), multi-aspect SAR can provide observation of targets in more azimuth directions. Radar backscattering is typically characterized by location and azimuth directions. Thus target anisotropic scattering properties can be exploited with multi-aspect SAR. Firstly, data inversion method is proposed to extract the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of target from each azimuth direction independently. And then, target aspect features which are target scattering persistence angle, peak value and main scattering direction are defined. These parameters' availability is validated by experimental data which is collected in chamber and airborne data. Finally, adaptive imaging method based on target scattering persistence angle is proposed to improve the existing Circular-SAR (CSAR) imaging methods. Additionally, porlarimetry is combined with target aspect features to realize the power lines extraction. Above applications of target feature extraction is achieved with airborne data.