Development of a high-resolution ground-based synthetic aperture radar

A description of an indoor SAR measurement facility is presented. The aim of the work is primarily to better understand the microwave backscatter characteristics of vegetation and soils. Based around a vector network analyser, the system utilises synthetic pulse techniques to obtain high resolution images. The principles of the technique are presented, together with a series of images of vegetation and artificial targets. Calibration procedures are implemented successfully and the images provide useful quantitative reflectivity information. The polarimetric capability of the system and its sensitivity to target structure is also demonstrated.