High-Level Project Summary
A synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) tries to get high resolution with a small antenna by moving the antenna over long distances and combining all the viewpoints into a single radar image with an effective aperture that’s much larger than the antenna itself. SAR achieved this by taking advantage and analyzing the Doppler shift in the returned signal after interacting with objects. SAR is better than the traditional optical-based image capturing technique as SAR emits its own energy, unlike optical images that rely on external sources such as sunlight intensity. Through this challenge, the team aims to introduce SAR technology to the locals and perhaps more people knowing the importance of SAR.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
This article will explore Synthetic Aperture Radar. Understanding what Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is and why is it important and needed compared to the traditional optical image capturing techniques. The traditional optical image capturing technique is not favourable when it is nighttime or when the object is obstructing the light pathway (object like clouds or rain). As SAR emits its own energy, it can easily solve both problems above by varying the frequency, allowing the wave to have different penetration power. It will also explore the use case for each frequencies range of electromagnetic wave emitted by SAR. The variable-frequency can be categorized into different frequencies range called band, namely X, C, L and P-band. Finally, it will explore the role and application of SAR in fighting the climate crisis. Starting with X with low penetration power that is used for surface level monitoring ranging to P that is used for forest soil monitoring. SAR have many applications such as Magellan Venus Explorer that capture the topography of the Venus terrain despite its dusty environment. Scientists have also started to use the SAR satellites to monitor the changes in forest terrain and other urban areas to make better decisions in tackling climate changes.
The presentation slide can be access through the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D5Z7bfEwTPEIeqod40kZlx7LtXC2Y3U1?usp=sharing
Space Agency Data
Herndon, K , Meyer, F , Flores, A, Cherington, E & Kucera, L 2020, ‘What is synthetic aperture radar?’, NASA Earth Data, 16 April, viewed 2 October 2021, < https://earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/backgrounders/what-is-sar>.
This article gives us a general introduction to SAR. It provides basic general knowledge on SAR, helping us to get started. Based on this article, I have explored other articles which explained the information in detail that acts as supplementary for the article.
Hackathon Journey
This was our first time joining Space Apps Challenge, we are really excited about it! Through the locals government promoting the event, we have formed our team and decided to take this opportunity to join the hackathon. During our first discussion, it was surprising that we all are really interested in the topic of Synthetic Aperture Radar. When we realised the application of the SAR, we are shocked that the things that we see and experience every day were actually related to the technology of SAR. Hence, our group decided to work on this challenge in order to introduce the SAR to more people specifically targeting the locals. Thanks to the scientists, we are able to experience and take advantage of this brilliant human-made technology that we believe will helps our earth!
References
Ricardo, RC 2020, ‘Application of synthetic aperture radar satellites to environmental monitoring’, Center for Strategic & International Studies, 9 November, viewed 2 October 2021, < https://www.csis.org/blogs/technology-policy-blog/applications-synthetic-aperture-radar-satellites-environmental >.
Herndon, K , Meyer, F , Flores, A, Cherington, E & Kucera, L 2020, ‘What is synthetic aperture radar?’, NASA Earth Data, 16 April, viewed 2 October 2021, < https://earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/backgrounders/what-is-sar>.
Benjamin, DH 2010, ‘The use of frequency resolution inecholocation for modeling three dimensional environments’, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 128, no. 6.
Tags
#cosmos,#SAR,#SyntheticApertureRadar,#space,#radar
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.