Assessment and Optimisation of Target Acquisition using SAR Seekers on Manoeuvrable Re-Entry Vehicles

In this thesis, the achievable performance and limitations of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) seeker on an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) for a set of parameters has been investigated. This was achieved by modelling the dynamics of an ASBM and the constraints related to the acquisition requirements of a maritime surface target in the ...

The impact of spatial resolution and satellite data type characteristics on Automated Damage Assessment using a Convolutional Neural Network

Satellite data, such as optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery, can provide information about the location and level of destruction caused by natural hazards. This information is essential to optimise the rescue mission logistics by humanitarian aid organisations and save people in need. Currently, many Automatic Damage Assessment (ADA)...

Sentinel-1 SAR Backscatter Response to Agricultural Drought in The Netherlands

Drought is a major natural hazard that impacts agriculture, the environment, and socio-economic conditions. In 2018 and 2019, Europe experienced a severe drought due to below average precipitation and high temperatures. Drought stress affects the moisture content and structure of agricultural crops and can result in lower yields. Synthetic...

Landslide detection and mapping on Synthetic Aperture Radar amplitude satellite imagery

There is a growing demand for detailed and accurate landslide maps and inventories worldwide. The mapping of landslides is essential for emergency response, disaster mitigation and a better understanding of landslides. Currently, it is still difficult to detect the timing and extent of landslides accurately through satellite imagery. Most often...

Application of Sentinel-1 data to quantify Arctic Coastal Retreat

In the arctic region many coastal areas exhibit rapid erosion, with coastal retreat or erosion rates of 10 meters per year (m/yr.) or higher in places. This poses a threat primarily to all manner of infrastructure built directly on and near the coastline. With climate change the coastal erosion is expected to increase. This effect is expected to...

Three‐ and four‐dimensional topographic measurement and validation

This paper reports on the activities carried out in the context of “Dragon project 32278: Three‐ and Four‐Dimensional Topographic Measurement and Validation”. The research work was split into three subprojects and encompassed several activities to deliver accurate characterization of targets on land surfaces and deepen the current knowledge...

Estimating 3D motion from radar data: Exploiting an omnidirectional radar array for motion estimation in the context of SAR imaging on agile platforms

Acquiring an accurate estimate of position is a challenging problem in coherent radar processing techniques such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Even more so, for light and agile platforms such as multi-copters. Due to their unpredictable flight path, their motion must be accurately measured during data acquisition, and compensated for during...

STEREOID Data Processor: Design and Performance Analysis

Stereo Thermo-Optically Enhanced Radar for Earth, Ocean, Ice, and land Dynamics (STEREOID) is one of the candidates of the ESA (European Space Agency) , Earth Explorer 10 missions. The novel constellation system will consist of the active Sentinel-1 satellites and two passive spacecrafts, which can provide flexible baseline configurations. The...

Forward-Looking Ultra-Wideband Synthetic Array Imaging

The expansion of microwave imaging applications in various fields proposes increasingly higher requirements (including spatial resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio) for microwave imaging systems. To achieve high-quality imaging, microwave imaging systems generally exploit spatial-, frequency- and polarization-diversities to probe...

Remote sensing of swell waves in the North Sea with Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar

The North Sea is known for its marine activities, which need ocean data for safe operations. The ocean surface is described using the two-dimensional wave spectrum. This ocean wave spectrum can be estimated using wave buoys, wave models or remote sensing techniques. Wave buoys and numerical models are known to contain inaccuracies, which...

Ultra Wideband Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging: Imaging algorithm

Nowadays, localization of cars is mostly done using GPS. Some major disadvantages of this method are that it is not very accurate and that it cannot be used indoors. These disadvantages do not form a major problem when an active human driver is controlling the car, but will become more critical when the autonomy of vehicles increases. The goal...

Ultra Wide Band Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging: Radar Movement

This thesis is part of the ”Ultra Wideband Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging” project of the bachelor Electrical Engineering graduation program in the fourth quarter of the teaching year 2016-2017. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is used to make images of the environment of a car. These images are, in combination with GPS, needed to give an...

Ultra Wideband Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging: Data Acquisition & Antenna Analysis

A system has been developed that utilises the techniques of Ultra Wideband and Synthetic Aperture Radar to produce top view images of a scene using measurements from the side. The system consists of the PulsON P410 radar module, a set of antennas, a moving platform and an imaging algorithm. This thesis will cover all the aspects of the data...

Optimisation of Method for Snow Avalanche Detection in SAR images: Supporting the development of snow avalanche mapping and monitoring of Svalbard

Avalanches form a threat to people travelling in mountainous regions as well as for infrastructure and buildings. They cause around 250 fatalities annually worldwide. To limit the number of future fatalities, forecasting services are interested in knowledge on avalanche activity to verify their warning system. They rely on information about the...

Surface and subsurface water from space: On the integration of microwave remote sensing observations with flood prediction systems

The technique of active microwave remote sensing has made much progress toward its high potential to monitor water storage changes in terrestrial surface and subsurface water bodies at various spatial and temporal scales. The number of studies demonstrating the support these data can offer in hydrological and hydraulic model building, model...