Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar raw data simulation of three dimensional natural terrain

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) raw data simulation of a natural terrain is a very useful tool for interpretation of SAR images, optimization of SAR system design scenario and evaluation of interferometric processing algorithms, as well as testing the performance of SAR payload hardware via EGSE (electronic ground support equipment). A method for simulation spaceborne SAR raw data starting from digital elevation map (DEM) data of natural terrain is proposed, based on fractal theory, the facet model and clutter scattering statistic model, as well as the Earth model and orbit propagator. Digital elevation data of a natural terrain is used in computer simulation. The simulated raw data is processed by means of the chirp scaling algorithm. Special phenomena in spaceborne SAR images of natural terrain are reflected in the final images, such as shadowing, layover and foreshortening, as well as the dynamic range of the radar. It is illustrated that the method is suitable for verification and optimization of a spaceborne SAR system scenario.