Department Radar Concepts (Dr. Gerhard Krieger)
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New radar concepts | |
The department Radar Concepts develops and analyzes innovative techniques for future radar remote sensing systems and applications.
The research areas cover a wide spectrum, including the investigation of new SAR imaging modes based on digital beamforming and multi-aperture signal processing, the analysis of bistatic and multistatic satellite formations, and the quantitative retrieval of bio- and geophysical parameters from interferometric and polarimetric SAR data.
Further topics are wide-area traffic monitoring, the modelling of microwave scattering and propagation in the atmosphere, the development of new sensor concepts for the detection of tsunamis, and the parasitic use of communication and navigation signals for innovative radar applications.
Main objectives of the department’s activities are the development and the design of future radar remote sensing missions for earth observation applications. Our long-term vision is a reconfigurable network of multiple cooperative SAR satellites which is well suited to satisfy the increasing user demands regarding operational availability, timeliness and data quality.
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Research and Project Groups
The group „SAR Techniques“ develops and analyses innovative multi-aperture radar imaging techniques for future SAR systems. An important example is the conceptual design and analysis of new high-resolution wide-swath radar imaging systems which combine digital beamforming and multi-aperture signal processing to overcome the inherent limitations of current SAR sensors. Further research topics are ground moving object indication for wide-area traffic monitoring applications, the development of novel hybrid and adaptive radar imaging modes, the efficient data reduction in multi-channel SAR systems and the development of a compact multi-channel radar demonstrator. |
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SAR Missions (Dr. Kostas Papathanassiou)
The group „SAR Missions“ elaborates proposals for future SAR missions. The user requirements are analyzed and appropriate mission concepts are derived. The definition of the mission and product parameters requires detailed investigations regarding performance, coverage, orbit geometry, etc. The new concepts will also take advantage of innovative SAR imaging techniques and technologies like multi-channel receiver systems, digital beamforming, and multistatic satellite formations. The group contributes to multiple international studies and supports the TanDEM-X mission in the area of interferometric performance analysis. |
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The group „Propagation and Scattering” investigates physical scattering processes and the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the earth's atmosphere. The study of propagation effects in the troposphere and ionosphere is a crucial issue both for the performance assessment and the calibration of radar systems. A further research topic is the investigation of new microwave sensor concepts. An example is the development and analysis of different ground, air- and spacebased radar techniques for the detection of tsunamis. Another emerging research topic is the parasitic usage of communication and navigation signals for future radar remote sensing applications. |
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The group „Polarimetric SAR Interferometry“ derives and analyzes novel algorithms for the quantitative retrieval of bio- and geophysical parameters from multi-channel radar data. An important research area is the coherent combination of polarimetric and interferometric SAR images. This combination enables the measurement of important vegetation parameters like tree height and density which are also of high interest for climate studies. Further research topics are the modelling of volume scattering in ice, bistatic polarimetry, the analysis of multi-frequency SAR interferograms and the measurement of soil moisture with fully polarimetric SAR data. The group contributes to several international studies and supports the scientific goals of the TanDEM-X mission via the coordination of the science team. |
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SAR System Engineering (Dr. Josef Mittermayer)
The main objectives of the research group SAR System Engineering are the theoretical and experimental design, extension and performance optimization of conventional and future SAR sensors. The theoretical background of the group is based on a long experience in the fields of SAR system engineering, SAR performance and SAR processing algorithm development for several SAR missions, e.g. ENVISAT/ASAR and TerraSAR-X. The group is developing an experimental SAR processor for TerraSAR-X, which allows for the verification of new modes and methods. The SAR processor is an important system for sensor-oriented experiments as well as for the demonstration of new application examples to enrich the missions TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X. The resulting expertise provides the basis for design and development of innovative new radar modes and new SAR mission proposals. |
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Contacts
Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Krieger 
Head of Department Radar Concepts
Microwaves and Radar Institute, Radar Concepts
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-3054
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449
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Dr.-Ing. Marwan Younis
Head of the SAR Techniques Group
Microwaves and Radar Institute, Radar Concepts
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2358
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449
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Dr.-Ing. Kostas Papathanassiou
Head of the SAR Missions Group
Microwaves and Radar Institute, Radar Concepts
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2367
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449
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Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Börner
Head of the Propagation and Scattering Group
Microwaves and Radar Institute, Radar Concepts
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2368
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449
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Dr. rer. nat. Irena Hajnsek
Head of the Polarimetric SAR Interferometry Group
Microwaves and Radarinstitute, Radar Concepts
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2363
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449
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Dr.-Ing. Josef Mittermayer
Head of the SAR System Engineering Group
German Aerospace Center
Microwaves and Radar Institute, Satellite SAR Systems
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2373
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449
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