An augmented Lagrangian method for autofocused compressed SAR imaging

We present an autofocus algorithm for Compressed SAR Imaging. The technique estimates and corrects for 1-D phase errors in the phase history domain, based on prior knowledge that the reflectivity field is sparse, as in the case of strong scatterers against a weakly-scattering background. The algorithm relies on the Sparsity Driven Autofocus (SDA) method and Augmented Lagrangian Methods (ALM), particularly Alternating Directions Method of Multipliers (ADMM). In particular, we propose an ADMM-based algorithm that we call Autofocusing Iteratively Re-Weighted Augmented Lagrangian Method (AIRWALM) to solve a constrained formulation of the sparsity driven autofocus problem with an ℓp-norm, p ≤ 1 cost function. We then compare the performance of the proposed algorithm's performance to Phase Gradient Autofocus (PGA) and SDA [2] in terms of autofocusing capability, phase error correction, and computation time

Autofocused compressive SAR imaging based on the alternating direction method of multipliers

We present an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) based autofocused Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging method in the presence of unknown 1-D phase errors in the phase history domain, with undersampled measurements. We formulate the problem as one of joint image formation and phase error estimation. We assume sparsity of strong scatterers in the image domain, and as such use sparsity priors for reconstruction. The algorithm uses l(p)-norm minimization (p <= 1) [8] with an improvement by integrating the phase error updates within the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) steps to correct the unknown 1-D phase error. We present experimental results comparing our proposed algorithm with a coordinate descent based algorithm in terms of convergence speed and reconstruction quality

Joint sparsity-driven inversion and model error correction for SAR imaging

Image formation algorithms in a variety of applications have explicit or implicit dependence on a mathematical model of the observation process. Inaccuracies in the observation model may cause various degradations and artifacts in the reconstructed images. The application of interest in this thesis is synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, which particularly suffers from motion-induced model errors. These types of errors result in phase errors in SAR data which cause defocusing of the reconstructed images. Particularly focusing on imaging of fields that admit a sparse representation, we propose a sparsity-driven method for joint SAR imaging and phase error correction. In this technique, phase error correction is performed during the image formation process. The problem is set up as an optimization problem in a nonquadratic regularization-based framework. The method involves an iterative algorithm each iteration of which consists of consecutive steps of image formation and model error correction. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method for various types of phase errors, as well as the improvements it provides over existing techniques for model error compensation in SAR

Sparsity-driven coupled imaging and autofocusing for interferometric SAR

In this thesis, we present a new joint image enhancement and reconstruction method and a software processing tool for SAR Interferometry. First, we propose a sparsity-driven method for coupled image formation and autofocusing based on multi-channel data collected in interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IfSAR). Relative phase between SAR images contains valuable information. For example, it can be used to estimate the height of the scene in SAR Interferometry. However, this relative phase could be degraded when independent enhancement methods are used over SAR image pairs. Previously, Ramakrishnan, Ertin, and Moses proposed a coupled multi-channel image enhancement technique, based on a dual descent method, which exhibits better performance in phase preservation compared to independent enhancement methods. Their work involves a coupled optimization formulation that uses a sparsity enforcing penalty term as well as a constraint tying the multichannel images together to preserve the cross-channel information. In addition to independent enhancement, the relative phase between the acquisitions can be degraded due to other factors as well, such as platform location uncertainties, leading to phase errors in the data and defocusing in the formed imagery. The performance of airborne SAR systems can be affected severely by such errors. We ii propose an optimization formulation that combines Ramakrishnan et al.'s coupled IfSAR enhancement method with the sparsity-driven autofocus (SDA) approach of Önhon and Çetin to alleviate the effects of phase errors due to motion errors in the context of IfSAR imaging. Our method solves the joint optimization problem with a Lagrangian optimization method iteratively. In our preliminary experimental analysis, we have obtained results of our method on synthetic SAR images and compared its performance to existing methods. As a second contribution of this thesis, we have developed a software toolbox for end-to-end interferometric SAR processing. This toolbox is capable of performing the fundamental steps of SAR Interferometry Processing. The thesis contains the detailed explanation of the algorithms implemented in the SAR Interferometry Toolbox. Test results are also provided to demonstrate the performance of the Toolbox under different scenarios

Digital Image Processing

This book presents several recent advances that are related or fall under the umbrella of 'digital image processing', with the purpose of providing an insight into the possibilities offered by digital image processing algorithms in various fields. The presented mathematical algorithms are accompanied by graphical representations and illustrative examples for an enhanced readability. The chapters are written in a manner that allows even a reader with basic experience and knowledge in the digital image processing field to properly understand the presented algorithms. Concurrently, the structure of the information in this book is such that fellow scientists will be able to use it to push the development of the presented subjects even further

A Linear Algebraic Framework for Autofocus in Synthetic Aperture Radar

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides a means of producing high-resolution microwave images using an antenna of small size. SAR images have wide applications in surveillance, remote sensing, and mapping of the surfaces of both the Earth and other planets. The defining characteristic of SAR is its coherent processing of data collected by an antenna at locations along a trajectory in space. In principle, we can produce an image of extraordinary resolution. However, imprecise position measurements associated with data collected at each location cause phase errors that, in turn, cause the reconstructed image to suffer distortion, sometimes so severe that the image is completely unrecognizable. Autofocus algorithms apply signal processing techniques to restore the focused image. This thesis focuses on the study of the SAR autofocus problem from a linear algebraic perspective. We first propose a general autofocus algorithm, called Fourier-domain Multichannel Autofocus (FMCA), that is developed based on an image support constraint. FMCA can accommodate nearly any SAR imaging scenario, whether it be wide-angle or bistatic (transmit and receive antennas at separate locations). The performance of FMCA is shown to be superior compared to current state-of-the-art autofocus techniques. Next, we recognize that at the heart of many autofocus algorithms is an optimization problem, referred to as a constant modulus quadratic program (CMQP). Currently, CMQP generally is solved by using an eigenvalue relaxation approach. We propose an alternative relaxation approach based on semidefinite programming, which has recently attracted considerable attention in other signal processing applications. Preliminary results show that the new method provides promising performance advantages at the expense of increasing computational cost. Lastly, we propose a novel autofocus algorithm based on maximum likelihood estimation, called maximum likelihood autofocus (MLA). The main advantage of MLA is its reliance on a rigorous statistical model rather than on somewhat heuristic reverse engineering arguments. We show both the analytical and experimental advantages of MLA over existing autofocus methods.Ph.D.Electrical Engineering: SystemsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86443/1/khliu_1.pd

Iterative synthetic aperture radar imaging algorithms

Synthetic aperture radar is an important tool in a wide range of civilian and military imaging applications. This is primarily due to its ability to image in all weather conditions, during both the day and the night, unlike optical imaging systems. A synthetic aperture radar system contains a step which is not present in an optical imaging system, this is image formation. This is required because the acquired data from the radar sensor does not directly correspond to the image. Instead, to form an image, the system must solve an inverse problem. In conventional scenarios, this inverse problem is relatively straight forward and a matched lter based algorithm produces an image of suitable image quality. However, there are a number of interesting scenarios where this is not the case. Scenarios where standard image formation algorithms are unsuitable include systems with data undersampling, errors in the system observation model and data that is corrupted by radio frequency interference. Image formation in these scenarios will form the topics of this thesis and a number of iterative algorithms are proposed to achieve image formation. The motivation for these proposed algorithms is primarily from the eld of compressed sensing, which considers the recovery of signals with a low-dimensional structure. The rst contribution of this thesis is the development of fast algorithms for the system observation model and its adjoint. These algorithms are required by large-scale gradient based iterative algorithms for image formation. The proposed algorithms are based on existing fast back-projection algorithms, however, a new decimation strategy is proposed which is more suitable for some applications. The second contribution is the development of a framework for iterative near- eld image formation, which uses the proposed fast algorithms. It is shown that the framework can be used, in some scenarios, to improve the visual quality of images formed from fully sampled data and undersampled data, when compared to images formed using matched lter based algorithms. The third contribution concerns errors in the system observation model. Algorithms that correct these errors are commonly referred to as autofocus algorithms. It is shown that conventional autofocus algorithms, which work as a post-processor on the formed image, are unsuitable for undersampled data. Instead an autofocus algorithm is proposed which corrects errors within the iterative image formation procedure. The proposed algorithm is provably stable and convergent with a faster convergence rate than previous approaches. The nal contribution is an algorithm for ultra-wideband synthetic aperture radar image formation. Due to the large spectrum over which the ultra-wideband signal is transmitted, there is likely to be many other users operating within the same spectrum. These users can produce signi cant radio frequency interference which will corrupt the received data. The proposed algorithm uses knowledge of the RFI spectrum to minimise the e ect of the RFI on the formed image

Widely Distributed Radar Imaging: Unmediated ADMM Based Approach

This paper presents a novel approach to reconstruct a unique image of an observed scene via synthetic apertures (SA) generated by employing widely distributed radar sensors. The problem is posed as a constrained optimization problem in which the global image which represents the aggregate view of the sensors is a decision variable. While the problem is designed to promote a sparse solution for the global image, it is constrained such that a relationship with local images that can be reconstructed using the measurements at each sensor is respected. Two problem formulations are introduced by stipulating two different establishments of that relationship. The proposed formulations are designed according to consensus ADMM (CADMM) and sharing ADMM (SADMM), and their solutions are provided accordingly as iterative algorithms. We drive the explicit variable updates for each algorithm in addition to the recommended scheme for hybrid parallel implementation on the distributed sensors and a central processing unit. Our algorithms are validated and their performance is evaluated by exploiting the Civilian Vehicles Dome dataset to realize different scenarios of practical relevance. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, especially in cases with limited measurements

An algebraic approach to synthetic aperture sonar image reconstruction

A new approach for synthetic aperture image formation is presented in this paper. With the presented method image formation is regarded as a signal arrangement that can be described by a matrix. This method integrates the sonar platform motion in the image formation process but more importantly it acknowledges the non ideal data gathering process and implements means to mitigate these shortcomings. This method is illustrated with real data obtained in test mission in the Douro River, Portugal by a synthetic aperture sonar developed at the University of Porto