Inverse Scattering Applications in Determining Terrain Feature Parameters.

Abstract : In this report, the results are described of an initial in-house research effort to investigate inverse scattering methods to determine terrain feature parameters. The problem of inverse scattering from discrete objects was considered, but was found not to apply to terrain feature extraction. Profile inversion concepts were analyzed, but were found to be only slightly relevant. Two specific inverse problems were analyzed and solved. The first problem involved solving for the dielectric constant of a slightly rough surface using the radar backscatter coefficients for two orthogonal polarizations. The second problem consisted of determining the dielectric constant and the conductivity of a medium located beneath a forest or jungle canopy. In this case, the electrical properties were calculated for two different polarizations of the incident wave. (Author)