Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares

This paper presents a method and results for the estimation of residual Doppler frequency, and consequently the range velocity component of point targets in single-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) focused single-look complex (SLC) data. It is still a challenging task to precisely retrieve the...

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Main Author: Joong-Sun Won
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-07-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/7/1160
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author Joong-Sun Won
author_facet Joong-Sun Won
author_sort Joong-Sun Won
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a method and results for the estimation of residual Doppler frequency, and consequently the range velocity component of point targets in single-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) focused single-look complex (SLC) data. It is still a challenging task to precisely retrieve the radial velocity of small and slow-moving objects, which requires an approach providing precise estimates from only a limited number of samples within a few range bins. The proposed method utilizes linear least squares, along with the estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (ESPRIT) algorithm, to provide optimum estimates from sets of azimuth subsamples that have different azimuth temporal distances. The ratio of estimated Doppler frequency to root-mean square error (RMSE) is suggested for determining a critical threshold, optimally selecting a number of azimuth subsample sets to be involved in the estimation. The proposed method was applied to TerraSAR-X and KOMPSAT-5 X-band SAR SLC data for on-land and coastal sea estimation, with speed-controlled, truck-mounted corner reflectors and ships, respectively. The results demonstrate its performance of the method, with percent errors of less than 5%, in retrieved range velocity for both on-land and in the sea. It is also robust, even for weak targets with low peak-to-sidelobe ratios (PSLRs) and signal-to-clutter ratios (RCSs). Since the characteristics of targets and clutter on land and in the sea are different, it is recommended that the method is applied separately with different thresholds. The limitations of the approach are also discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-4e03edab9dbf43f3841aa0f961dc94872022-12-21T19:41:41ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922018-07-01107116010.3390/rs10071160rs10071160Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least SquaresJoong-Sun Won0Department of Earth System Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, KoreaThis paper presents a method and results for the estimation of residual Doppler frequency, and consequently the range velocity component of point targets in single-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) focused single-look complex (SLC) data. It is still a challenging task to precisely retrieve the radial velocity of small and slow-moving objects, which requires an approach providing precise estimates from only a limited number of samples within a few range bins. The proposed method utilizes linear least squares, along with the estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (ESPRIT) algorithm, to provide optimum estimates from sets of azimuth subsamples that have different azimuth temporal distances. The ratio of estimated Doppler frequency to root-mean square error (RMSE) is suggested for determining a critical threshold, optimally selecting a number of azimuth subsample sets to be involved in the estimation. The proposed method was applied to TerraSAR-X and KOMPSAT-5 X-band SAR SLC data for on-land and coastal sea estimation, with speed-controlled, truck-mounted corner reflectors and ships, respectively. The results demonstrate its performance of the method, with percent errors of less than 5%, in retrieved range velocity for both on-land and in the sea. It is also robust, even for weak targets with low peak-to-sidelobe ratios (PSLRs) and signal-to-clutter ratios (RCSs). Since the characteristics of targets and clutter on land and in the sea are different, it is recommended that the method is applied separately with different thresholds. The limitations of the approach are also discussed.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/7/1160synthetic aperture radar (SAR)Doppler frequencyrange velocitylinear least squaresESPRITground moving targets
spellingShingle Joong-Sun Won
Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares
Remote Sensing
synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
Doppler frequency
range velocity
linear least squares
ESPRIT
ground moving targets
title Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares
title_full Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares
title_fullStr Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares
title_full_unstemmed Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares
title_short Doppler Frequency Estimation of Point Targets in the Single-Channel SAR Image by Linear Least Squares
title_sort doppler frequency estimation of point targets in the single channel sar image by linear least squares
topic synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
Doppler frequency
range velocity
linear least squares
ESPRIT
ground moving targets
url http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/7/1160
work_keys_str_mv AT joongsunwon dopplerfrequencyestimationofpointtargetsinthesinglechannelsarimagebylinearleastsquares