Using the scattering matrix from a plane/ circular wave to estimate the terrain azimuth slope

Abstract

In this thesis project, I use the knowledge about the radars/antennas (radiation pattern), wave polarization, propagation characterization and the phenomenon of reflection in order to estimate the shifts in orientation angles induced by the azimuth slope variations. The scattering matrix (S) from the POLarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radars (POLSARs) and the concept of reflection symmetry are used to explain the soundness of both linear and circular polarization method and to show problems associated with other algorithms. The thesis project includes doing literature research, trying to understand some important algorithms and techniques published in the open literature to estimate of the terrain azimuth slope (simulated by MATLAB®).