This report documents the signal analysis procedures developed at Cran-
field University for ground based entomological radars. The radars use a nutating
vertical beam, allowing target (individual insect) position and radar crosssection
(RCS) parameters to be measured
The model accounts for non-circular beam cross-sections and assumes a three
parameter target RCS model. An iterative maximum-likelihood algorithm is
used, and uses the model and system noise data to provide quantitative measures
of the model’s goodness of fit to the data and of parameter uncertainties as well
as the best fit solution parameters.
Successful applications of the algorithm to both radar calibration and insect
monitoring are illustrated with field observations using the USDA/Cranfield
ground-based entomological radar system. The results show good performance
for the analysis method, but do not exploit its full potential because the noise
model is only approximate.
Cranfield University; United States Department of Agriculture