INVERSION OF SYNTHETIC APERTUR,E R,ADAR (SAR) - MSpace ...

ternplate which leplesents the cornplex pulse retu-,-ns receivecl frorri a point
scatterel at a specifiecl location. Although this apploach utilizes /-å domain
opelations for fast trvo-clirnensiolal collelation, it is only an extended velsion
of the conventional SAR lxocessing approach.
Two othel more recent approaches are rlore distillct in the coltext of the
/-ß clornain processing. Rocca el a/. [96] have showed sirnilar.ities betrveer
reflection seisrnic sulvey and SAR data acquisition configuration, and developecl
a SAR plocessing algorithm utilizing /-À clonain processing. This
approach is based on the seismic rniglation theory. Raney and Vachon [92]
also clevelopecl a phase-preserving SAR processol by exploiting the phase
shifts in the /-È domain solely fi'om the analysis of the SAR systern theoly.
Although, the al¡ove two apploaches startecl fi'om quite difelent points of
view with respect to SAR signal data, both appi-oaches úilize f-k clornain plocessing
ancl have ploved its aclvantages over the conventional range-Dop¡tler
domain processors. The key to the success of these apploaches lies in the fact
that a small acljustnent of the phase in the /-É donain achieves the r.angecurvature
collection rvithout significantly clisturbing the range ol azimuth
focus.
Development of a new SAR processing approach in this thesis is motivatecl
by the successful application leportecl in the seismic rniglation lesearch
desclibed by Rocca et al. 1961. Unlike the seisrnic migration appr.oach, the
nerv SAR processing approach in this thesis is, horvever, based on an inveLse
scatteling theory. Specifically irversion of the SAR irnage clata is folmulatecl
in similal fashion to the seismic Boln i¡version method rvhich has l¡eell
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