Millimeter-wave radar phenomenology of power lines and a polarimetric detection algorithm

Citation
K. Sarabandi et Ms. Park, Millimeter-wave radar phenomenology of power lines and a polarimetric detection algorithm, IEEE ANTENN, 47(12), 1999, pp. 1807-1813
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Information Tecnology & Communication Systems
Journal title
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION
ISSN journal
0018926X → ACNP
Volume
47
Issue
12
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1807 - 1813
Database
ISI
SICI code
0018-926X(199912)47:12<1807:MRPOPL>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
In this paper, the radar phenomenology of high-voltage power lines and cabl es is studied for examining the feasibility of detecting power lines along the path of a low-flying aircraft using a millimeter-wave radar system. For this purpose, polarimetric backscatter measurements of power line samples of different diameters and strand arrangements were performed over a wide r ange of incidence angles with very fine increments at 94 GHz, Also, similar polarimetric backscatter measurements were conducted for cylinders of the same radii and lengths as the power line samples for identifying the scatte ring features caused by the braiding structure of the power lines. In addit ion, the effects of a thin layer of water and a layer of ice over the power line surface on its polarimetric scattering behavior are studied by repeat ing the polarimetric backscatter measurements. Based on this phenomenologic al study, a polarimetric detection algorithm that makes use of the scatteri ng features caused by the braided structure of power lines is proposed, It is shown that the proposed algorithm is capable of detecting power lines in a relatively strong clutter background with a poor signal-to-clutter ratio . The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated experimentally using a r ough asphalt surface and a vegetation foliage as sample clutter backgrounds .