Pulse-Based Radar Imaging Using a Genetic Optimization Approach for Echo Separation

This paper describes a novel 3-D ultra-wideband (UWB) imaging technique with the aim of detecting, classifying, and imaging water pipes located inside walls. The target under test was chosen in such a way that the echoes of the front side of the wall and of the water pipes overlap making it impossible to distinguish between them in the raw data. Applying a genetic optimization algorithm for modeling the radar response by a superposition of single echoes it was possible to determine the exact round-trip times of several scatterers. Moreover, the algorithm takes into account the pulse distortion caused by varying angles of incidence at the broad beam antenna.