A 2-D polarimetric backpropagation algorithm for ground-penetrating radar applications

A stepped-frequency continuous-wave radar is used in a ground-penetrating r adar application for the high-resolution imaging of surface or shallow laid buried objects. Effective sensing of low-dielectric-contrast objects (w.r. t. their host environment) is accomplished via integration methods to enhan ce the image processing gain. Specifically, a two-medium backpropagation tr eatment, implemented in the frequency domain, is applied with various windo w functions. Moreover, the cross-polarimetric images of the objects are als o collected to exploit polarimetric contrast variations. These techniques t aken in combination provide a significant improvement in radar detection pe rformance and image contrast. To demonstrate the usefulness of the simple a lgorithm and techniques described two field experiments were conducted at d ifferent frequency, and their results are reported. (C) 2001 John Wiley & S ons, Inc.