A mobile and versatile SAR system

Abstract

The Linear SAR (LISA) of the European Microwave Signature Laboratory is presented, A. J. Sieber (1993). The instrument allows two synthetic apertures, one linear synthetic aperture of 5 meters length and another circular aperture allowing a maximum aperture of about 2 meters. The combined use of both apertures allows the creation of 3D radar images. The microwave instrumentation, based on a vector network analyzer allows a dual polarised measurement in a frequency band, ranging from 500 MHz to 6 GHz. By use of an additional frontend, being studied in-house, the usable frequency range can be extended toward higher frequencies, and the usable band of 5.5 GHz can be shifted and a maximum frequency of 20 GHz can be reached. The delivered power of the system is sufficient over the whole bandwidth to see targets in more than 200 meters distance. The recorded radar images have at 100 meters distance a typical resolution of 50 cm and up to 3 cm in cross range. Interferometric mode can be used, to detect either changes of the target or to create digital elevation models of the target. The instrument is controlled by a workstation, that allows also the in field processing of the data. All instruments are hosted by a trailer, which can be easily transported on road.