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
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
.