ISARLAB - Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Simulation - Defence ...

The Surveillance Systems Division (SSD) of the Defence Science and TechnologyOrganisation (DSTO) has developed a software tool for simulating radar returns andprocessing them to form range profiles and ISAR images. This tool, called ISARLAB,allows the user to define the scenario to be simulated using models for the radarwaveform, the radar and target geometry, the target motions and, most importantly,the target scattering. Generation of quality target scattering models is key to thedegree of realism which can be achieved with the system. The approach taken is togenerate a point scatterer model for the target of interest from the results of an inhousedeveloped electromagnetic prediction code called GSC (General ScatteringCode).The problem with the whole task of ISAR image simulation now becomes one ofproducing sufficiently detailed CAD models of the targets of interest for input to GSC.Although this problem is not technologically challenging, the job of constructing highfidelity CAD models requires considerable effort and/or expense. One remainingquestion, however, is the degree of model accuracy needed to produce ISAR imageswith sufficient realism for the purpose of radar operator training. This requirementwill also impact on the number of point scatterers needed in the model, and thereforeon the computation time required by ISARLAB. This number is not known at thisstage, but it appears that models with a few hundred point scatterers will beacceptable. Work is continuing in this area and validation will be achieved by acomparative analysis using real ISAR imagery.In summary, this document represents the combination of a Reference Guide and aUser's Guide to the ISARLAB software package, as well as providing a briefintroduction to radar imaging theory. It is believed that ISARLAB will provebeneficial to radar operator training by helping to develop an understanding of radarimaging mechanisms and the strengths and weaknesses of high resolution radartechnology in an operational role.