Performance evaluation of pre-Doppler and post-Doppler space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques for a multimode ground moving target indicator system

This thesis examines the performance of STAP algorithms using real data from an airborne multimode two-channel GMTI system used by Defence Research and Development Canada-Ottawa (DRDC-O). This work examines and quantifies performance aspects of some partially adaptive STAP algorithms in a real world scenario. In the initial examination we compare and quantify the relative performance between a specific pre-Doppler and post-Doppler partially adaptive STAP techniques. Here we discover that the post-Doppler STAP algorithms perform better than the pre-Doppler STAP algorithms when there are a group of targets within a localized area. Next we investigate how a specific partially adaptive post-Doppler STAP algorithm performs relative to the optimal fully adaptive case. From our results, we see that the partially adaptive post-Doppler STAP algorithm is a robust and a nearly optimal solution that is practical for implementation.; From our work, we note that the detection of slow moving targets is greatly enhanced through the use of STAR In areas where a target is moving very slowly such as congested cities, highways or battlefield conditions, the use of post-Doppler STAP would be mandatory. In concert with this, the use of partially adaptive STAP would be critical in the real-time implementation of a GMTI system that has to be cost-effective. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...