SOURCE: AFI
Kolkata-based Sisir Radar has recently achieved a significant milestone in remote sensing technology by successfully operating their L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on a newly developed drone platform. This achievement marks a substantial advancement in high-resolution imaging capabilities for various applications.
The drone platform, designed and built in-house by the Sisir Radar team, prioritizes stability, even in challenging weather conditions. This robust design is crucial for acquiring consistent and high-quality SAR data. The L-band SAR system captured imagery in HH polarization, achieving an impressive resolution of 1 meter in both azimuth and slant range. This level of detail allows for precise observation and analysis of ground features.
The raw data acquired by the SAR system underwent processing using a significantly improved SAR processor running on a cloud-based system. This cloud processing approach enables efficient handling of large datasets and facilitates rapid image generation.
A key highlight of this achievement is the exceptional automatic registration of the captured SAR image with reference to Google Maps. This accurate georeferencing demonstrates the combined effectiveness of the SAR system, the stable drone platform, and the advanced SAR processor. The precise alignment with existing map data enhances the usability of the SAR imagery for various applications, including:
- Environmental monitoring: Tracking deforestation, urban sprawl, and other land-use changes.
- Disaster management: Assessing damage after natural disasters like floods or earthquakes.
- Infrastructure inspection: Monitoring pipelines, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.
- Agriculture: Evaluating crop health and yield.
- Defense and surveillance: Providing all-weather, day-night surveillance capabilities.
This development by Sisir Radar showcases India’s growing capabilities in advanced radar technology and drone development. The combination of a high-resolution L-band SAR with a stable drone platform and advanced processing techniques represents a significant step forward in geospatial intelligence and remote sensing applications.