| definition |
- Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR)provides the capability of acquiring imagery inclement weather or during night as well as day. SAR systems take advantage of the long-range propagation characteristics of radar signals and the complex information processing capability of modern digital electronics to provide high resolution imagery. Synthetic aperture radar complements photographic and other optical imaging capabilities because of the minimum constraints on time-of-day and atmospheric conditions and because of the unique responses of terrain and cultural targets to radar frequencies.
Synthetic aperture radar technology has provided terrain structural information to geologists for mineral exploration, oil spill boundaries on water to environmentalists, sea state and ice hazard maps to navigators, and reconnaissance and targeting information to military operations. There are many other applications or potential applications. Some of these, particularly civilian, have not yet been adequately explored because lower cost electronics are just beginning to make SAR technology economical for smaller scale uses.
Sandia has a long history in the development of the components and technologies applicable to Synthetic Aperture Radar -- 40 years in radar, antenna, and miniature electronics development; 30 years in microelectronics; and 25 years in precision navigation, guidance, and digital-signal processing. Over the last decade, we have applied these technologies to imaging radars to meet the needs of advanced weapon systems; verification and nonproliferation programs; and environmental applications. Sandia's expertise in electromagnetics, microwave electronics, high-speed signal processing, and high performance computing and navigation, guidance and control have established us as world leaders in real-time imaging, miniaturization, processing algorithms, and innovative applications for SAR.
Additional information available at
http://www.sandia.gov/radar/sar.html
[Summary provided by Sandia National Laboratories]
Group: Instrument_Details
Entry_ID: SAR
Group: Instrument_Identification
Instrument_Category: Earth Remote Sensing Instruments
Instrument_Class: Active Remote Sensing
Instrument_Type: Imaging Radars
Short_Name: SAR
Long_Name: Synthetic Aperture Radar
End_Group
Group: Associated_Platforms
Short_Name: COSMO-SKYMED
Short_Name: SEASAT 1
Short_Name: RADARSAT-1
Short_Name: JERS-1
Short_Name: ERS-1
Short_Name: AIRCRAFT
End_Group
Online_Resource: http://www.sandia.gov/radar/sar.html
Sample_Image: http://www.sandia.gov/radar/images/3dsar.gif
Creation_Date: 2008-07-31
Group: Instrument_Logistics
Instrument_Owner: Sandia National Laboratories
Instrument_Owner: USA/NASA
End_Group
End_Group
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