Imaging of objects embedded in a lossy half-space with a stepped frequency synthetic aperture radar

A stepped frequency continuous wave radar is used in a ground penetrating radar application for the high resolution imaging of surface laid or shallow buried objects. Effective sensing of low dielectric contrast objects (with respect to their host environment) is accomplished via integration methods to enhance the image processing gain. Specifically, a two-medium synthetic aperture treatment is applied and a frequency domain window implemented. These techniques taken in combination provide a significant improvement in radar detection performance and image contrast. To demonstrate the usefulness of these techniques, two field experiments using different antenna types were conducted and their results are reported.