Date of Award

12-1991

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Vittal P. Pyati, PhD

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop a procedure for estimating the average bistatic radar clutter power from a topographic map using rough surface scattering theory. First, the terrain in the radar target area was divided into sub regions having homogeneous characteristics. A joint Gaussian distribution for the surface heights was fitted from the information contained in the topographic map contour lines for each homogeneous area. From these distributions, the normalized radar cross section for each terrain area was determined. The clutter power for each range cell was then determined via a modified radar range equation. The procedure was implemented for three target areas of an existing ground based bistatic system near Hanscom AFB, MA using a U.S.G.S topographic map of the area. Scattered power from very rough surfaces was estimated. However, the accuracy of the estimates could not be verified due to a lack of actual data for comparison. It was also determined that topographic map data may not be sufficient to determine scattered power from slightly rough surfaces.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GE-ENG-91D-24

DTIC Accession Number

ADA243697

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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