CFAR detection algorithm for ground target in heterogeneous clutter using high resolution SAR image

Because of increasing SAR image resolution, the well-known classical statistical SAR image models sometimes do not fit to heterogeneous environment. In this paper, G⁰ model based CFAR detector is proposed to detect the vehicle targets in the heterogeneous ground environment. The G⁰ distribution model is known as suitable for various degree of homogeneity and is adopted as the statistical model in this paper. Although G⁰ model well fits to heterogeneous SAR image, G⁰ based CFAR detector still has many false alarms arising from impulsive strong echoes. In order to reduce false alarms, which is occupied in a few pixels compared to actual target size, extended target window scheme is applied in this paper. Detection results are presented using high resolution real SAR image with the intended vehicle targets in the heterogeneous background environment.