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Department SAR Technology (Prof. Dr. Andreas Reigber)

The DLR research aircraft Dornier Do-228: the usual platform for the F-SAR sensor, (c) Renato Burkhart.

The SAR Technology department is primarily engaged in the development, operation and data processing of the Institute’s airborne SAR systems, as well as in research in the areas of high precision SAR focusing and image analysis.

Airborne SAR has been a central research area at the Institute for more several decades. The research work performed with the airborne systems is an important contribution to the design and operation of future innovative spaceborne SAR systems. The airborne systems are used to simulate SAR data products of future SAR systems, as well as to research new SAR imaging and processing techniques (for example bistatic SAR, circular SAR, holographic SAR, polarimetric SAR interferometry, tomography and digital beamforming). Scientific acquisition campaigns for business, universities, national and international research institutions and agencies are carried out on a regular basis to prosper the development of new information products based on SAR data.

The current operational system, the F-SAR sensor, has been entirely designed and developed by the department and can be considered as one of the most advanced and flexible airborne SAR sensors in the world. A digital beamforming extension – the so-called DBFSAR system – is currently under development. The department is also operating a large-scale Compact Test Range (CTR) facility for antenna measurements and radar cross-section characterization.

Airborne SAR Missions (Ralf Horn)

The Airborne SAR group is responsible for the organization and execution of test and measurement flights and large scale scientific flight campaigns with the Institute’s airborne SAR sensors. The group is also responsible for operating and maintaining the airborne SAR calibration test site, as well as organizing the external sensor calibration during scientific flight campaigns.

Airborne Radar Systems (Dr. Eric Schreiber)

Radar system development, testing of new SAR techniques and concepts, design and development of analogue and digital subsystems, design and development of hardware and software for the control of radar systems, realization of subsystems for radar data recording, system integration and system tests.

Antennas (Markus Limbach)

The Antenna group focuses on the SAR antenna design, simulation and development, in particular for the airborne SAR activities of the Institute, but also for various other applications. The group also operates the Institute’s Compact Test Range (CTR) – a high-precision measurement chamber for antenna characterization and radar cross section measurements.

Signal Processing (Dr. Rolf Scheiber)

Development of innovative algorithms and techniques for airborne SAR signal processing (interferometry, polarimetry, tomography, differential interferometry, multi-pass interferometry), operational processing of SAR data acquired with the airborne sensors of the Institute, data archiving via DIMS (Data Information and Management System), studies and project contributions for national and international SAR missions.

Multimodal Algorithms (Dr. Pau Prats)

End-to-end SAR processing chain: spaceborne SAR image focusing up to DEM generation, differential SAR interferometry and SAR tomography, interferometric processing for TanDEM-X (including the bistatic processor), new processing algorithms for innovative satellite-based image modes (high resolution SAR, TOPS mode, gliding spotlight), performance analyses of future missions (Tandem-L, observation of SAR satellite signals using UAVs) and research activities on airborne sensors (SAR tomography, differential SAR interferometry, motion compensation).

Contact

Prof. Dr. Andreas Reigber
Head of Department SAR Technology
German Aerospace Center
Microwaves and Radar Institute, SAR Technology
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2360
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449

Ralf Horn
Head of the Airborne SAR Missions Group
German Aerospace Center
Microwaves and Radar Institute, SAR Technology
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2384
Fax: +49 8153 28-1135

Dr.-Ing. Eric Schreiber
Head of the Airborne Radar Systems Group
German Aerospace Center
Microwaves and Radar Institute, SAR Technology
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-3094
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449

Markus Limbach
Head of the Antennas Group
Microwaves and Radar Institute, SAR Technology
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-3060
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449

Dr.-Ing. Rolf Scheiber
Head of the Signal Processing Group
German Aerospace Center
Microwaves and Radar Institute, SAR Technology
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2319
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449

Dr.-Ing. Pau Prats
Head of the Multimodal Algorithms Group
German Aerospace Center
Microwaves and Radar Institute, SAR Technology
Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling
Tel.: +49 8153 28-2684
Fax: +49 8153 28-1449