RaySAR v1.2

Welcome and thank you for your interest in RaySAR :-).

RaySAR is a 3D synthetic aperture radar (SAR) simulator which enables to generate SAR image layers related to detailed 3D object models. Moreover, it enables one to localize the 3D positions and surface intersection points related to reflected radar signals. In particular, RaySAR helps to understand the nature of signal multiple reflections at man-made objects (e.g. building structures) or artificial shapes. Scene models with different levels of detail can be processed - from digital surface models (DSMs) to high-end 3D structures - which can be defined in relative or absolute world coordinates. RaySAR can be run on Windows / Linux and is based on an adapted version of the open-source ray tracer POV-Ray.

RaySAR v1.2 introduces the following new elements:
– Implementation of ray tracing procedure for RaySAR using source code of POV-Ray 3.7; advantages: multi-core process to reduce run time of rendering, updated interfaces between POV-Ray and other software, e.g. Blender
– Export of signal contributions from POV-Ray integrated into multi-core processing
– Compiled MATLAB part added to the package
– Dummy Python implementation of the core function for image generation added to the package (limited to signal reflection levels 1 and 2 but easily expandable)

Special thanks go to my colleague Philipp Sibler who coupled the process of multi-core ray tracing with simultaneous data export :-).

The package RaySAR 1.2, which can be downloaded as a zip file below, contains the following folders:
– MATLAB_part: MATLAB code and compiled version of the RaySAR MATLAB part; moreover: dummy implementation of the core function for image generation in Python
– POV-Ray: RaySAR components related to ray tracing (installation instructions, POV-Ray source,
model file for testing POV-Ray, compiled version of adapted POV-Ray for Windows)
– RaySAR_Documentation: theoretical background (doctoral thesis) and documentation on RaySAR
– RaySAR_Test_Models: two model files for testing the simulation tools of RaySAR
– License: GNU license related to the RaySAR package
– RaySAR_folder_structure_for_Windows: dummy structure for organizing RaySAR in Windows

Take the opportunity to tell your experiences with RaySAR or ask questions to a community by joining the RaySAR Google group, which is found here: https://groups.google.com/g/raysar

Finally, please have a look to already conducted work (see "RaySAR in a nutshell", section 1.2. of
RaySAR documentation) and don't forget to cite existing RaySAR methods and case studies
appropriately in your work.

Good luck with your projects!

Stefan Auer
Remote Sensing Technology Institute at German Aerospace Center (DLR)
[email protected]
April, 2021

RaySAR v1.1

Hello and thank you for your interest in RaySAR :-).

Below, you find the current release v1.1 of the 3D SAR simulator RaySAR (see further details inside the package). Feel free to test, improve, and expand it :-). Tailor it to your needs to get to know SAR imaging effects better and to support your scientific work. Feel free to give your feedback and contribute to a fruitful discussion in the RaySAR Google Group (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/raysar).

Note: RaySAR 1.1. does not contain any changes of core simulation tools. That is, simulation results obtained with version v1.0 are the same than for v1.1. Improvements are related to the applicability (modeling tools) and visual appearance of RaySAR.

(Please note: RaySAR_1.1a contains a hotfix for a bug in MATLAB m-file Maps.m. Original RaySAR_1.1 has been removed.)

Using RaySAR_1.1a_compiled, you can run the MATLAB part of RaySAR on Linux systems without MATLAB license. As only prerequisite, you have to install MATLAB Runtime (R2017b) for Linux, which you get here: http://www.mathworks.com/products/compiler/mcr/index.html
!!! Please note that the POV-Ray part (compiled ray tracer) from RaySAR_1.1a.rar/RaySAR_1.1a.zip has to be added to complete RaySAR !!!

Please take a look on available RaySAR publications and applications here

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefan_Auer/contributions

in order to figure out potential RaySAR applications and extension in your field of research.

Good luck with your projects :-).

Stefan Auer

German Aerospace Center (DLR)