SAR radiometric calibration activities are aimed at perfectly characterizing the instrument from a radiometric point of view. Both external and internal (i.e. embedded into the instrument) techniques are usually exploited to calibrate a SAR instrument. ARESYS has acquired within the years a unique experience in SAR calibration techniques. ARESYS is currently involved in support to SAR calibration activities with space agencies (ESA, ASI, CONAE) and with leader radar manifacturing companies (Thales Alenia Space - Italy). The expertise in SAR calibration cover the following aspects:
- support to definition of SAR instrument internal calibration network;
- support to the processing and analysis of internal calibration pulses;
- definition of SAR calibration plans exploiting internal and external calibration resources;
- definition and implementation of advanced SAR calibration techniques based on SAR data products;
Among these different proposed calibration techniques the
PS Calibration technique (r) has been chosen as a complementary calibration approach to be exploited during the future Sentinel-1 operations. The technique is completely based on data processing and does not require costy external calibration devices. It is able to monitor the status of the instrument by an accurate statistical multi-temporal analysis of the radiometric characteriostichs of a set of 'natural' radar targets.
Space & Air
