Processing of Sliding Spotlight and TOPS SAR Data Using Baseband Azimuth Scaling

This paper presents an efficient phase preserving processor for the focusing of data acquired in sliding spotlight and TOPS (Terrain Observation by Progressive Scans) imaging modes. They share in common a linear variation of the Doppler centroid along the azimuth dimension, which is due to a steering of the antenna (either mechanically or electronically) throughout the data take. Existing approaches for the azimuth processing can become inefficient due to the additional processing to overcome the folding in the focused domain. In this paper a new azimuth scaling approach is presented to perform the azimuth processing, whose kernel is exactly the same for sliding spotlight and TOPS modes. The possibility to use the proposed approach to process ScanSAR data, as well as a discussion concerning staring spotlight, are also included. Simulations with point-targets and real data acquired by TerraSAR-X in sliding spotlight and TOPS modes are used to validate the developed algorithm

In-Orbit SAR Performance of TerraSAR-X

TerraSAR-X is the first German Radar satellite for scientific and commercial applications. The project is a public-private partnership between DLR and EADS Astrium GmbH. TerraSAR-X consists of a high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar at X-Band. The radar antenna is based on active phased array technology that allows the control of many different instrument parameters and operational modes (Stripmap, ScanSAR and Spotlight) with various polarizations. Following the TerraSAR-X launch, scheduled for February 2007, it is planned a six month Commissioning Phase covering the characterization and verification of the SAR mission. Within this phase, the Overall SAR System Performance (OSSP) takes care of the correct working and interaction of all SAR system elements essential for obtaining an optimum SAR Performance. The paper covers the first in-orbit characterization and verification results of the SAR system performance for TerraSAR-X operational and experimental modes. This characterization is divided into four phases: Initial Characterization, Scene Characterization –both mostly based on basic and experimental products-, and Verification of TS-X Instrument Command Generation. The different optimization strategies and performance trade-offs are discussed and presented in the paper, including very first TerraSAR-X images. The result of the real SAR data analysis determines the final system baseline and thus the final image quality, e.g. Temperature compensation, Total Zero Doppler Steering, Up/down chirp toggling, transmitted bandwidth, timing interferences, etc. The first section of the paper introduces the activities carried out during the Commissioning Phase for the TerraSAR-X SAR system performance characterization/verification. In the second section, the strategies for the performance optimization and characterization are presented. Finally, the in-orbit SAR performance results are given in section three

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

TOPS Imaging with TerraSAR-X: Mode Design and Performance Analysis

This paper reports about the performed investigations for the implementation of the wide swath TOPS imaging mode with TerraSAR-X. The TOPS mode overcomes the limitations imposed by the ScanSAR mode by steering the antenna along-track during the acquisition of a burst. In this way, a uniform signal to noise ratio (SNR) is achieved, and consequently, scalloping and an azimuth-dependent distributed target ambiguity ratio (DTAR) are avoided. However, the use of electronically steered antennas leads to a quantization of the steering law and a non-ideal pattern for squinted angles (grating lobes and main lobe reduction). The former provokes spurious peaks, while the latter introduces a slight scalloping and DTAR deterioration. These effects are analyzed and quantified for TerraSAR-X and a TOPS system design approach is presented. Next, the requirements concerning interferometry are investigated. Finally, several results are shown with TerraSAR-X data, including a comparison between the TOPS and ScanSAR modes and the reporting of first TOPS interferometric results

Weiterentwicklung der Azimutprozessierung

Ziel des vorliegenden Technischen Berichts ist die Weiterentwicklung der Azimutprozessierung in einem Multi-Apertur SAR System durch die Entwicklung und Analyse von Optimierungspotentialen. Dieser Bericht basiert auf den Analysen und Ergebnissen der AP 2200 und 2400 aus der Phase I der HRWS Studie. Der erste Teil beschreibt den Einfluss des neuen Sendeverfahrens f-Split auf die Azimutprozessierung und leitet ein äquivalentes Systemmodell her. Darauffolgend werden, ausgehend von einer systematischen Analyse der Ursachen für Rauschen und Aliasing, Kompensations- und Optimierungspotentiale aufgezeigt. Diese Analyse erlaubt, im weiteren Verlauf des Berichts Strategien und Methoden zu definieren, um diese Potentiale zu nutzen. Dabei umfasst die Bandbreite der Lösungsansätze sowohl eine optimierte Anpassung von Prozessierungsparametern im bekannten Algorithmus als auch eine Erweiterung des bestehenden Prozessierungsalgorithmus bis hin zur Analyse und Evaluierung eines neuen Algorithmus für Multi-Apertur Systeme. Dabei betreffen alle der vorgeschlagenen Methoden und Techniken nur die Prozessierung des bereits abgetasteten Azimut-Signals, und können somit direkt im bestehenden Referenzsystem implementiert und angewendet werden. Abschließend wird ein Ausblick auf weitergehende Optimierungspotentiale gegeben, die in Systemen Anwendung finden können, die sowohl sende- als auch empfangsseitig über eine komplexere Architektur als das aktuelle HRWS System verfügen

TerraSAR-X TOPSAR and ScanSAR comparison

TOPSAR is a recently proposed SAR mode for wide swath acquisition, which is intended to replace the conventional ScanSAR mode. TOPSAR will be used by the ESA Sentinel-1 SAR sensor in its main interferometric wide swath mode. TerraSAR-X has demonstrated the TOPSAR mode in space by acquiring and processing TOPSAR images for the first time. The paper reports the results of the image scalloping analysis performed on TOPSAR, inverse TOPSAR and ScanSAR images