Module 1 – Parameter extraction and Range Spectrum
estimation
Program to run: ‘spectrum.m’
Function used : ‘range_chirp.m’
Input : LEADER.dat, IMGDATA.dat
Output : \module_2\ref.dat (range reference function)
Description :
This module contains the MATLAB code ‘spectrum.m’ and a function ‘range_chirp.m’.
This step of SAR image formation involves extracting some parameters from the LEADER file
given with raw data file and estimating the average range spectrum of the raw data. It also
generates the reference chirp signal and its spectrum in order to compare it with the raw data
spectrum. The ‘LEADER.DAT’ file contains satellite and scene specific data that is normally
required in image formation process. Several parameters like pulse repetition frequency,
wavelength, pulse length of the chirp signal, mission id, range gate delay and velocity of the
sensor are extracted from the LEADER file according to their specific addresses given in the
description of the LEADER file. Other parameters like range pulse spacing and resolution are
estimated using the data extracted from the LEADER file. Run ‘sprectrum.m’ to see the
spectrum estimates of raw signal in range direction and reference signal.
Explanation :
The raw data file contains data obtained during a period of time of operation of the
sensor. Each row contains one received signal (Range direction). The number of rows suggests
the number of received signals. Each row of the raw data contains 11644 samples out of which
412 lines are header data. The first 412 samples of 11644 total samples (first row) contains
missing line info, sampling windows start time, etc. The raw data contains approximately 27200
lines. It is difficult to process entire scene as it needs huge amount of computer RAM. So, a
patch processing technique is employed in this module which processes a part of the total data
each time and adds it to the processed data. This takes more time but is useful in overcoming the
memory limitations of the processor. The patch size can be decided by the user but since a
complete aperture is needed to form a high resolution image from the patch, it should include
one complete aperture of raw data.
An important tool used in MATLAB for SAR image generation is the Fast Fourier Transform
(FFT). FFT is efficient when the total number of samples is to a power of 2.
Thus, the next power of 2 of the number of pulses required for full aperture is taken as the patch
length. In this case, it amounts to 2048 lines for the aperture size of 1045 pulses.
The data in the raw file is complex data with real (in-phase) and imaginary (quadrature)
parts of a returned echo. This data is converted into complex array in array in Matlab and the
mean (DC component; for 5 bit data, mean 31/2 = 15.5) is subtracted from the data. When we
represent the samples in complex form, the effective number of samples for each row will be
(11644 – 412)/2 = 5616 samples. This data will have zero mean. Due to wrap around effects of
the FFT function, last (τ is pulse length in range direction and fs is the sampling
frequency) samples are discarded for each row. Thus the number of valid samples in one row
comes out to be 4912 in this case. Length of FFT in range direction will therefore be the next
power of 2 of these valid range samples which is 8192.
A range reference signal is created which will be used for match filtering in range
compression step. This reference signal will have pulse length in range direction and 4912
samples in total corresponding to the valid samples in each row (range direction). The power
spectrum of this signal is obtained and plotted along with the real part of the reference chirp
signal. The average frequency spectrum of actual data in range direction is also plotted. Finally
the range reference signal is written into a DAT file in the next module for further use.
Results:
Raw image of first patch
500
Azimuth bin
1000
1500
2000
500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500
Range bin
Linear frequency modulated signal
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1
-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
-5
x 10
Chirp Spectrum
40
30
20
10
dB
-10
-20
-30
-1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5
frequency (Hz) 7
x 10
Azimuth average of range spectra
52
50
48
46
44
42
40
38
-1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5
7
x 10
