Synthetic aperture radar target acquisition model based on a National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale to probability of discrimination conversion

Previous efforts have established models that relate IR and visible imaging sensor design and operating parameter values to measures of information extraction performance. The surveillance and reconnaissance community predicts National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale (NIIRS) values using the general image quality equation (GIQE). The target acquisition community predicts probabilities of discrimination (detection, recognition, identification) using various minimum resolvable contrast/minimum resolvable temperature (MRC/MRT) models, and methods have been developed to link the two sets of predictions. No such models currently exist for the radar domain, although a radar NIIRS has been developed. We provide a basis for initial estimates of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) target acquisition performance. First, a conversion from radar to IR (and visible) NIIRS is provided. The IR NIIRS is then converted to probabilities of discrimination values. The two conversions together provide rough estimates of SAR target acquisition performance as a function of radar NIIRS values. (C) 2003 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.