Optimal block quantization for SAR data

A variable bit rate coding scheme designed for new generation SAR satellites is presented. This coding is based on previous schemes of Block Adaptive Quantizer (BAQ) and is intended as a possible improvement over Sentinel-1 FDBAQ. In this project, the number of quantizers is considered a design choice and the optimization is carried out looking for a set of reflectivity classes in which partition all the imaged areas on the Earth. Superior performances to those envisaged for Sentinel-1 FDBAQ are obtained in terms of SNR vs. average rate. Results come from simulations based on a 16-bit mosaic of C band reflectivity obtained by ESRIN from ENVISAT GM data and Wien University database of ENVISAT WSM radar reflectivity.