Three-Dimensional Target Visualization from Wide-Angle IFSAR Data

Abstract

We consider the problem of developing three-dimensional (3D) spatial representations of objects by processing sparse, wide-angle radar measurements of that object. We propose an approach in which multiple interferometric SAR (IFSAR) image pairs are obtained, each using a modest angular aperture. Each IFSAR image pair is used to extract 3D scattering locations and attributes, and these points are noncoherently combined to form object reconstructions. Volume rendering methods are employed to represent these spatial points and their attributes. Reconstruction results are presented using synthetically-generated, wide-angle scattering data of a backhoe.

Feature extraction algorithm for 3D scene modeling and visualization using monostatic SAR

“…11 While other measurement apertures could be considered, we are motivated to focus initially on IFSAR apertures because of the tractable data collection requirements and the encouraging initial results obtained for 3D target characterization. 12,13 In addition, model order selection and parameter estimation from complex SAR images are significantly more tractable 2, 3, 7 than from frequency-domain measurements; this tractability readily extends to IFSAR image pairs, as we show below.…”