The impact of block adaptive quantization algorithm on power-loss with SAR raw data

In order to improve the radiometric precision of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, this paper analyses the power-loss of SAR raw data which is caused by block adaptive quantization (BAQ) and then proposed a compensation method. Firstly, the saturation factor γclip is defined and then a unified model of BAQ compression is proposed by using the concept of normalized quantizer. Secondly, the signal expression during BAQ procedure is deduced under the unified model and some important parameters are expressed as a function of γclip. Thirdly, a one-to-one relationship between saturation degree and power-loss of compressed data is established through γclip, the corresponding compensation method is proposed as well. Experiment results based on simulated data prove the correctness of theoretical relationship and the validity of the compensation method.