Fusion-based impairment modelling for an intelligent radar sensor architecture

Radford, Darren Lee James 2009. Fusion-based impairment modelling for an intelligent radar sensor architecture. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

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Abstract

An intelligent radar sensor concept has been developed using a modelling approach for prediction of sensor performance, based on application of sensor and environment models. Land clutter significantly impacts on the operation of radar sensors operating at low-grazing angles. The clutter modelling technique developed in this thesis for the prediction of land clutter forms the clutter model for the intelligent radar sensor. Fusion of remote sensing data is integral to the clutter modelling approach and is addressed by considering fusion of radar remote sensing data, and mitigation of speckle noise and data transmission impairments. The advantages of the intelligent sensor approach for predicting radar performance are demonstrated for several applications using measured data. The problem of predicting site-specific land radar performance is an important task which is complicated by the peculiarities and characteristics of the radar sensor, electromagnetic wave propagation, and the environment in which the radar is deployed. Airborne remote sensing data can provide information about the environment and terrain, which can be used to more accurately predict land radar performance. This thesis investigates how fusion of remote sensing data can be used in conjunction with a sensor modelling approach to enable site-specific prediction of land radar performance. The application of a radar sensor model and a priori information about the environment, gives rise to the notion of an intelligent radar sensor which can adapt to dynamically changing environments through intelligent processing of this a priori knowledge. This thesis advances the field of intelligent radar sensor design, through an approach based on fusion of a priori knowledge provided by remote sensing data, and application of a modelling approach to enable prediction of radar sensor performance. Original contributions are made in the areas of intelligent radar sensor development, improved estimation of land surface clutter intensity for site-specific low-grazing angle radar, and fusion and mitigation of sensor and data transmission impairments in radar remote sensing data.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Engineering
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
ISBN:	9781303214363
Funders:	Data and Information Fusion Defence Technology Centre, United Kingdom
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	10 Jan 2018 04:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/54820

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