Sentinel – 1 SAR Image Processing for Target Detection and Evaluation by using Bulgarian VTMIS

This paper describes some experimental results of sea target detection by Sentinel - 1 SAR imagery and in-situ validation by using terrestrial sensors (Radar and AIS) of the Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) of Bulgaria. Images of Western Black Sea region, provided by ESA Sentinels Scientific Data Hub for the period of April 1-st till May 30-th, 2018 are processed for automatic target detection. Detected targets are then compared with Radar and AIS data, collected by the Bulgarian port infrastructure company and its VTMIS. Database includes lists of integrated targets (Radar and AIS), Radar targets only (with no AIS transponder, small non-SOLAS vessels) and AIS targets only (outside coverage area of Radar surveillance subsystem).