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Principles of Modern Radar - Volume 2 1891121537

Principles of Modern Radar - Volume 2 1891121537

Principles of Modern Radar - Volume 2 1891121537

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7.7 Applications 329(a)FIGURE 7-60 Example RADARSAT-1 imagery (a) stripmap image <strong>of</strong> Atlanta, GA, andvicinity, and (b) expanded view <strong>of</strong> Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.(RADARSAT-1 Data c○ Canadian Space Agency/ Agence spatiale canadienne 1998.Received by the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing. Processed and distributed by MDAGeospatial Services Inc. All rights reserved.)(b)A common theme across these applications is the goal <strong>of</strong> surveying a large area;indeed, global coverage is sometimes desirable. The properties <strong>of</strong> an isolated 1 km by1 km spot on the earth are rarely <strong>of</strong> interest. Consequently, spotlight operation, with itslimited image extents and low area coverage rates, is quite unusual for remote sensing.On the other hand, moderate cross-range resolutions are required to segment and isolatedifferent terrain types and facilitate parameter retrieval as a function <strong>of</strong> location. Therefore,ScanSAR collections, with their associated poor cross-range resolutions, have limitedutility. Stripmap possesses a reasonable balance between cross-range resolution and ACR,making it the standard acquisition mode for remote sensing.The Canadian Space Agency’s RADARSAT-1 is a fine example <strong>of</strong> a space-based SARfor remote sensing applications [18,19]. The radar antenna can be steered electronicallyin elevation, providing a ScanSAR capability. However, the antenna is incapable <strong>of</strong> eitherelectronic or mechanical steering in azimuth, and continuous slewing <strong>of</strong> the platform isimpractical; therefore, the system does not possess a spotlight mode. Stripmap operationproduces the finest cross-range resolution, and RADARSAT is frequently tasked in thismode. Example imagery appears in Figure 7-60 [20].7.7.2 Penetration ApplicationsIt is sometimes desirable to produce imagery <strong>of</strong> objects through an intervening medium.Applications include the detection and characterization <strong>of</strong> ground vehicles hidden fromview underneath treetop canopies, detection and localization <strong>of</strong> buried landmines andsubterranean pipes, and the estimation <strong>of</strong> ground elevation beneath glacial ice sheets. Theintervening medium in these three cases is tree foliage, earth soil and rocks, and glacialice, respectively.

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