Image reconstruction and enhancement for subsurface radar imaging using wavefield statistics

Frequency modulated, continuous wave (FM-CW) radar has many applications toward NDE of civil structures, as well as the imaging of buried objects. We first introduce the theory behind the operation of stepped chirp FM-CW subsurface radar, and then present an image enhancement technique based on the wavefield statistics. The technique uses the second order statistics of the frequency domain representation of each point in the output to clarify target peaks and reduce the magnitude of surrounding areas. Experimental results using FM-CW ground penetrating radar on buried targets of varying depths are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of stepped chirp radar and the enhancement technique