Optimal range and Doppler centroid estimation for a ScanSAR system

This paper presents a new range and Doppler centroid estimation algorithm for a ScanSAR system. This algorithm is based on processing the image data in the overlapped region of two bursts of the same beam or adjacent beams. It leads to highly accurate radar pointing angles that are paramount to achieving good radiometric performance in ScanSAR imagery. The achievable accuracy is derived theoretically and verified by tests performed using SIR-C ScanSAR data and ERS data. This algorithm is computationally efficient and easy to implement. The proposed Doppler centroid estimation algorithm is also an excellent candidate for a strip mode SAR system.