Through-wall Surveillance using Ultra-wideband Short Pulse Radar: Numerical Simulation

Based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, this paper investigates the feasibility of using ultra-wideband short-pulse (UWB SP) radar to provide through-wall surveillance. High fidelity through-wall radar data are generated by the use of the FDTD method, where a two-dimension room with concrete walls is modeled. A space-time domain image-generation algorithm, back projection (BP) algorithm, is utilized to transform the raw radar data into radar images. The velocity change in the propagation of a concrete wall alters the travel time between the transmitter, the target, and the receiver. This impact of the wall on the performance of through-wall radar imaging is considered in the image processing. The simulated results demonstrate that hidden targets behind concrete walls can be correctly located in both range and direction by using the FDTD-simulated scattered field information.