The research exploits the advantages of using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to detect, analyze, and quantify environmental changes. The first research thrust focuses on improving SAR image formation with a phased array airborne or spaceborne radar. Efficient SAR image formation techniques are being developed by appropriately designing the transmitted waveforms of the phased array radar. The trade-offs between nonparametric and parametric techniques are being studied and understood. The second research thrust focuses on the SAR image understanding and ground truth evaluation. Statistical clustering algorithms and various feature extraction schemes that adequately incorporate electromagnetic phenomenology are being developed and evaluated. The third research thrust focuses on the detection, analysis, and quantification of environmental changes through repeated SAR imaging of critical regions including the environmentally fragile Florida wetlands. Change detection techniques are being developed to quantify and document subtle environmental changes from these images.
