Globesar-2: o programa de avaliação de dados do RADARSAT nas Geociências

Abstract

The RADARSAT-1, launched in November 1995, is the first operatipnally oriented Earth observation satellite to carry a SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imaging sensor. A key capability that distinguishes RADARSAT from other satellite SAR systems (ERS-1, ERS-2, JERS-1) is the flexibility it offers in terms of image acquisition modes. The system is the first commercial radar satellite to use a steerable antenna which enables terrestrial observation from selected incidences angles (10° to 59°). RADARSAT has 35 distinct beam and incidence angle positions with spatial resolution varying from 10 -100 m. One advantage of controlling the variation of incidence angle of the SAR image is that the user is able to acquire two images of the same area (from distinct orbital passes) at different incidence angles, and the two scenes can be viewed together using traditional stereoscopic methods (three-dimensional perspective of the terrain). RADARSAT-1 is the first of a three-satellite program. Efforts have already begun aiming at the specification of RADARSAT-2 which will have an anticipated launch around the year 2000. A third satellite is envisaged to continue the RADARSAT program to the year 2010 and beyond. GlobeSAR-2 is a technology transfer, training, and applications development program, based on RADARSAT-1 data, carried out in 11 countries in Latin America. The program is led by the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) with the South American portion of the program funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and International Development Research Centre (IDRC). RADARSAT International Inc. (RSI), PCI, and Atlantis Scientific are private sectors partners in GlobeSAR-2. CIDA funding of $ 4.3 million (CDN) supports eight countries and three countries are supported by funding from IDRC. Expected expenditures in Brazil for the GlobeSAR-2 Program are estimated approximately at $ 500,000 (CDN) covering the purchase of image processing software (PCI and Atlantis Scientific) and RADARSAT images (RSI), training, in-country travel for GlobeSAR-2 participants to field-work, workshops, national seminars, and national and international symposia. In addition, University training materiais developed by the program will be widely distributed to Brazilian universities. The GlobeSAR-2 Program in Brazil is coordinated by INPE. The GlobeSAR-2 program goals are: (1) to learn how to use satellite SAR data, particularly RADARSAT-1 data, for geosciences applications in distinct environments; (2) to enhance the resource management capabilities in the participating countries through demonstration and training of SAR remote sensing, in particular RADARSAT-1, and (3) to demonstrate the value of RADARSAT-1 applications for improved natural resource and environmental monitoring and planning, promote the integration of RADARSAT-1 information into each country's ongoing programs and projects, and help to establish and enhance the radar remote sensing capacity in each of the participating countries, in particular the integration of RADARSAT with other data. A baseline program for GlobeS AR-2 in Brazil was defined in Feb 95 based on collaborative projects involving Brazilian researches mainly from Universities and national agencies. A call for experiments was issued to Brazilian researches in March 96 and 28 proposals were received at INPE. The proposals were evaluated and awarded by a CCRS/RSI team on a competitive basis. The final decisions concerning the acceptance of the proposals were made by the GlobeSAR-2 Sponsors in October 96, and 10 proposals were approved to receive RADARSAT scenes and 14 proposals were selected to received a SAR educational/training package and also radar analysis software licenses. This paper briefly presents the GlobeSAR-2 program, highlights the educational and training approach being implemented, and also provides an overview of the applications selected for the Brazilian component of the program.