Microsoft Word - FDBAQ_paper12.docx

 Abstract — The paper introduces a novel quantizer suited for medium to high resolution SAR systems, like the forthcoming SENTINEL-1 SAR. The Flexible Dynamic Block Adaptive Quantization (FDBAQ) extends the concept of the Block Adaptive Quantization (BAQ), used in space-borne SAR since the Magellan mission, by adaptively tuning the quantizer rate according to the local Signal-to-Noise-Ratio. A design is presented aiming to optimize the average bit-rate, while constraining the minimum Signal-to-Total Noise Ratio (SNR). FDBAQ optimized performance is then evaluated using backscatter maps derived from ENVISAT data.