Implementation and quality analysis of a CSA SAR processor

Recently, a new SAR processing algorithm has been proposed. The basis of the method is to equalize the range migration trajectories of the whole image with respect to a reference range. During azimuth compression, the range migration at the reference range can be exactly corrected, and its effect is extended to all ranges. In order to assess the quality of the resulting image, a number of quality criteria are evaluated. They include classical measurements, such as spatial resolution, ISLR and PSLR, as well as refined ones for better analysis of the pulse shape. The stability and variation of the quality criteria when changing several key input parameters (Doppler centroid, FM rate acid reference range) are also studied. The tests have been performed using real ERS-1 raw data. The selected scene is the Flevoland site where three transponders and several corners reflectors are deployed, thus allowing precise quality analysis to be performed