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Graduate Exam Abstract


Robert M. Beauchamp

Ph.D. Preliminary
May 1, 2015, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Clark A205
Dual-Polarization Radar Characterization of Wind Turbines with Implications for Suppression

Abstract: Wind turbines present large dynamic targets for radar systems and result in interference that can inhibit normal radar operation for range volumes in and beyond ranges occupied by the wind turbines. As a result of this interference, also referred to as wind turbine clutter, the construction and location of wind turbines is restricted or radar operations are limited to sub-optimal performance for some areas. With the exponential growth of wind energy production using turbine, reducing the interference cause by wind turbine for radar system is critical to maintaining performance of radar systems for air traffic control, defense, weather prediction, and severe weather warning.

From basis scattering theory and radar signal processing methods, characterization of precipitation, ground clutter, and wind turbines is considered. This work characterizes echoes from these targets using dual-polarization radar to develop signal processing suppression methods for wind turbine interference. The physical characteristics of wind turbines are exploited to explore new temporal suppression methods for radar observations contaminated with wind turbine echoes.

This detailed characterization compares wind turbine signatures to that of precipitation and ground clutter. With a unified characterization method, unique features of each are identified and leveraged to develop wind turbine clutter suppression techniques. This work uses the cyclic nature of wind turbines, and parametric estimation methods, and wind turbine clutter suppression is demonstrated in the presence of precipitation and moving targets.


Adviser: V. Chandrasekar
Co-Adviser: N/A
Non-ECE Member: Paul Mielke, Statistics
Member 3: Margaret Cheney, ECE/Math
Addional Members: Anura Jayasumana, ECE

Publications:
Beauchamp R. M. and Chandrasekar, V. Robust Linear Depolarization Ratio Estimation for Dual-Polarization Weather Radar. In process.
Beauchamp R. M. and Chandrasekar, V. Chen, H. & Vega, M. A. Overview of the NASA D3R Observations during the IFloodS Field Experiment with Emphasis on Rainfall Mapping and Microphysics. In review. Journal of Hydrometeorology.

Beauchamp R. M. and Chandrasekar, V. Real-Time Noise Estimation and Correction in Dual-Polarization Radar Systems. In review. IEEE Trans. On Geosciences and Remote Sensing.
Vega, M. A., Chandrasekar, V., Carswell, J., Beauchamp, R. M., Schwaller, M. R., & Nguyen, C. M. (2014). Salient Features of the Dual-frequency, Dual-polarized, Doppler Radar for Remote Sensing of Precipitation. Radio Science.
Beauchamp R. M. and Chandrasekar, V. (2014) PRECIPITATION CHARACTERIZATION USING SIMULTANEOUS KU- AND KA-BAND DIFFERENTIAL DOPPLER VELOCITY MEASUREMENTS. IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.



Program of Study:
CS545
ECE513
ECE651
ECE742
STAT525
ECE565 (UMass-Amherst)
N/A
N/A