Real-time processing for ultra-wide SAR sub-surface sensing

Ongoing experiments have demonstrated the utility of ground penetrating radar (GPR) for the detection of deep sub-surface structures. Volumetric images of the sub-surface can be produced using bistatic, near-field sensing, combined with wide-angle, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing techniques. However, the nature of the problem precludes the use of standard SAR image formation algorithms, and requires a numerically intensive approach. Initial efforts used non-real-time, post-experiment data processing to form the images, but this is not satisfactory for the ultimate goal of an airborne, real-time sensor. This paper focuses on the real-time processing implications of the algorithm, and its implementation on a parallel high-performance computer. The results shown were obtained using ground-based data collection experiments, using surface contact antennas.