Using the fractal dimension (FD) to discriminate between targets and clutter

Radar data from a Doppler beam sharpened (DBS) mode and a high range resolution (HRR) mode are analyzed to determine if the fractal dimension (FD) can be used to discriminate between targets, clutter and target-like clutter. The FD for a test case is computed and it is found that the FD is higher for the target than the clutter in both DBS and HRR. It is also found that the target-like clutter has an FD which is the same as that for clutter. On the basis of this analysis, the FD will discriminate between a target and clutter even when the clutter appears like a target.