Towards Fuller Extraction and Utilization of SAR Imagery Information Content

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RADARSAT-2 Program Advanced ModeUpdate
Utilization Update
2nd Workshop on Coastal and Marine Applications
of SAR Longyearbyen, Norway 8 12 September
2 Mo Farhat Canadian Space Agency
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Presentation Outline

1. RADARSAT-2 Development Status.
2. RADARSAT-2 Advanced Mode Utilization progress.
3. Preliminary RADARSAT-2 Government Utilization
   Plans

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• RADARSAT-2 Development Status.

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RADARSAT-2 Development Status Access Control
Policy Legislation

• In June 1999, Cabinet approved the principles of
  an ACP and requested additional analysis with
  respect to a legislative approach.
• In May 2003, Cabinet approved drafting
  instructions for new legislation to regulate the
  operation of commercial remote sensing space
  systems.
• The legislation is currently being drafted.
• The new Commercial Remote Sensing Space Systems
  Act, will betabled in Parliament in the Fall of
  2003.
• Consultations with Industry will start later in
  the year.
• The new legislation and regulations must be in
  place well in advance of the launch of RADARSAT-2
  to govern not only operations but also advanced
  commercial arrangements.

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Update on RADARSAT-2 Development Norway
Canada MOU

• NSC, CCRS and CSA Long-term agreement,
  collaboration in radar-based EO
• Seamless transition between the R-1 and R-2
  programs for Norway is assured
• NSC agreed to invest 15 million (CDN) to get
  access to R-2 data from RSI
• MDA will work with Kongsberg Spacetec (KSAT) to
  enable Spacetec's current customers to use SAR
  data from R-2
• RSI and KSAT entered into an agreement for the
  commercial utilization of the data.

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RADARSAT-2 Development Status
Launch scheduled for 2005 Construction is facing
some delays.
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• 2. RADARSAT-2 Advanced Mode Utilization (RAMU)
• progress.

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RADARSAT-2 Advanced Mode Utilization

• Given CSA major investment in RADARSAT-2 and its
  potential to support the Earth Observation
  community, it is important to
• Ensure timely applications development for a
  better exploitation of R-2 capabilities
• Increase use of R-2 data in Government operations
• Maintain Canadian industry leadership in SAR
  satellite applications

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Objectives

• Harmonize the various initiatives for the
  development of new applications
• Reinforce collaborative efforts with CCRS and
  RSI
• Acquisition of polarimetric data (Convair-580,
  ENVISAT, RADARSAT-2)
• Development of polarimetric analysis software
  tools
• Dissemination of information (regional
  workshops (8), symposia (2), publications)
• Technical Support
• Input to design of future missions.

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP1 Project Engineering
Management

• Procurement RFP/AO
• Earth Observation Applications Development
  Program (EOADP) Released first wave of RADARSAT-2
  based RFP
• 13 industry projects were accepted, contracts are
  under negotiation.
• Contract value C 100K with participation from
  bidder.
• Most applications have "Strong RADARSAT-2
  Potential" as per the CCRS R-2 Applications
  study.

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EOADP R-2 first wave successful projects

• Coherence Optimization and Analysis Using
  Multi-Polarization Envisat SAR Data in
  Preparation for RADARSAT 2
• Cartographie des aires protégées marines et
  côtières à l'aide dimages RADARSAT-2 simulées
• Assessment of Multi-Polarization C-Band SAR for
  Vector-Borne Disease Risk Mapping
• EQeau/POLAR Élargir l'application EQeau à
  l'utilisation des images ENVISAT et mesurer des
  données polarimétriques en vue de RADARSAT-2
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application for
  Retrieval of Surface Soil Moisture Using Remote
  Sensing And In-situ Data
• Classification Potential of Polarimetric SAR
  Using Target Decomposition Techniques
  Application to Distributed and Point Targets

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EOADP R-2 first wave successful projects

• Multisensor and Contextual Information Fusion for
  Automatic Target Detection and Recognition.
• Development of Polarimetric CFAR Ship Detection
  Technologies for RADARSAT 2
• Utilisation pré-opérationnelle d'images acquises
  par capteur radar multipolarisé
• Soil Moisture Mapping Using Multi-Polarization
  and Multi-Angle SAR (SOMPAS)
• FloodTrack Plus Advanced Radar Sensors for
  Improved Flood Extent Mapping
• SAR Based Crop Monitoring and Forecasting Service
• Application de données radar multipolarisées et
  LIDAR aéroporté pour le suivi des cultures

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP1 Project Engineering
Management

• Procurement RFP/AO
• Government Related Initiatives Programs (GRIP)
  RADARSAT-2 based Projects (FY03-04)
• RADARSAT-2 advanced forest applications
  (NRCAN-CFS).
• SAR Characterization of the Nearshore Ice Complex
  (NRCAN-GSC)
• Preparing for implementing advanced SARin Ice and
  marine operations (EC-MSC-CIS)(DFO)
• Determination de l'humidite du sol en territoire
  agricole avec des donnees ROS pol.(AAFC)
• Retrieval of biophysical crop and field
  descriptors (AAFC)

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP1 Project Engineering
Management

• Procurement RFP/AO
• SOAR
• CSA approved document.
• SOAR office established at CSA.
• Interaction with RSI and CCRS to implement
  program plan started.

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP1 Project Engineering
Management

• Procurement RFP/AO
• Polarimetry Workstation RFP
• Review and editing of RFP document.
• RFP sent PWGSC, comments received.
• FINAL RFP AND APPENDIX Sept. 4, 2003
• RFP TO MERX Sept. 5, 2003
• CLOSING DATE Sept. 29, 2003
• PWGSC EVALUATION Oct. 3, 2003
• CSA TECHNICAL EVALUATION Oct. 13, 2003
• CONTRACT AWARD Oct. 20, 2003

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP2 Applications
Engineering

• Pre-competitive RD
• Is progressing well at CCRS, activities
  include
• Development of algorithms and procedures to
  analyse RADARSAT-2 polarimetric data.
• Extraction of useful information products in a
  number of applications areas.
• Scientific support to EOADP SOAR.

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP2 Applications
Engineering

• Establishing Priorities
• Government R-2 Applications Working Group
  meetings to resume early October.
• AWG to recommend and advise on development of
  RADARSAT-2 Utilization plan and its
  implementation.
• Preliminary elements and concepts for RADARSAT-2
  Utilization plan were developed at CSA.

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RADARSAT-2 AMU Progress WP2 Applications
Engineering

• Workshops (ASAR 2003)
• Organized a session on "Scattering models,
  scatterometers and Ground SAR"
• Polarimetric C-Band scatterometer
• Development Capabilities of ground SAR
• Ground SAR 3D polarimetric Tomography of
  Vegetation Canopies
• Ground based Data for applications
• Good international participation in the session,
  discussion summery and recommendations is
  available.

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3. Preliminary RADARSAT-2 Government Utilization
planConsultation with Industry Government
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Proposed RADARSAT-2 Government UtilizationBasic
Elements

• Polarimetric SAR Processing Starter Support.
• SOAR.
• RADARSAT-2 Pilot Operational Capabilities.
• Data Utilization.
• Applications Research and development.

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1. Polarimetric SAR Processing Starter Support

• 1.1 Polarimetric Tools
• Polarimetric Workstation RFP.
• CCRS Polarimetric Workstation.
• CSA Freeware.
• 1.2 SAR Polarimetric imaging missions
• Convair Data.
• ENVISat.
• 1.3 Polarimetry Tutorial.
• 1.4 Data sets ( agr, snow,urban,coastal, sea ice).

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2. SOARScience and Operational Applications
Research for RADARSAT-2

• Objective to explore operationally and
  commercially viable solutions to current problems
  and issues related to the utilization of
  RADARSAT-2 SAR images.
• Limited amount of RADARSAT-2 processed data will
  be provided to key clients, partners and research
  organizations.
• RSI will provide image acquisition for all the
  users (estimated 150 users at an average of 8
  scenes per user). Also will process free of
  charge 400 scenes for international users.

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2. SOAR

• CSA will pay processing for 800 scenes for
  research in Canada. Also CSA has the SOAR
  office.
• CCRS will provide opportunities for the research
  community focusing on the Quad-pol capabilities
  also participate in proposal evaluation, progress
  reports reviews and technical papers reviews and
  monitor progress of individual projects.

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3. R-2 Pilot Operational CapabilitiesConcepts

• "lets see what existing technology can do..if
  useful ?.. use it operationally..specify
  improvements ..let research work on it..
  Integrate improvement as it becomes available"
• Government department will identify a requirement
  for using RADARSAT-2 to extract operational
  information on a sustained bases.
• Government can be the operator and end user
  initially.
• CSA will support OGD to design a development road
  map for an operational pilot capabilities. This
  will be used as bases for developing SOW.
• Various business models to partner with
  industry.

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3. R-2 Pilot Operational Capabilities

• Initial themes include specific major
  applications within Agriculture, Forestry,
  Topography, Geology, Marine and Natural hazards.
• Government data allocation will be used. CSA will
  pay for processing of pilot operational data for
  two years(100 scene per year per operational
  entity).
• Other sensors are considered to compliment
  RADATSA-2 capabilities for an operational system.
• EOADP GRIP will partially support development
  of pilot operations system.

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3. R-2 Pilot Operational Capabilities

• Government department is expected to provide and
  support pilot operational infrastructure.
• RPOC system development 18 months. And pilot
  operational phase 24 months.
• Consultation with OGD and industry are taking
  place.

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RPOCs Why ??

• To deliver quickly and directly benefits to the
  Government user.
• To focus research and development limited
  resources.
• To accelerate the commercialization and
  utilization of RADARSAT-2.
• To provide and direct the operational
  requirements of new sensors.
• Offer a mechanism to contribute to GMES and GEO.

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4. Data Utilization PlanMain Concept

• " Complete utilization of Government R-2 Data
  allocation"
• Proposed data allocation will be to utilize data
  through the following mechanisms
• Government utilization based on RADARSAT-1.
• Projected increase in operational usage.
• Thematic Data sets.
• Bartering data with other sensors.
• Data allocation for extended mission.

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4. Data Utilization Plan Proposed Thematic Data
Sets

• Plan the acquisition of thematic coherent data
  sets for Government and potential research
  usage. An OGD scientific and operational group
  will specify the sets.
• Acquire and archive data.
• Thematic Sets will have higher priority than
  Background mission since its using Government
  allocation.
• Process data as it is requested. Cost of
  processing will be recovered from user.

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4. Data Utilization Plan Example Thematic Data
Sets

• Global Topographic geological mapping .
• Digital Elevation Models.
• Geological structures and features.
• Shorelines Islands.
• Desert mapping.
• Minerals oil
• 2. Global land cover mapping.
• Forestry
• Vegetated areas
• Agriculture
• Snow

• Global water and soil mapping
• Lakes and rivers.
• Wetland
• Ground water.
• Ground salinity.
• Soil moisture.
• Soil type and condition.
• Global Urban Areas mapping.
• Cities
• Highways, Railways Bridges.
• Power lines Pipelines.
• Natural Hazards
• Flooding
• Volcano
• Hurricanes

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4. Data Utilization Plan Data Bartering Concepts

• Pilot operational activities will determine
  required complimentary satellites.
• A process will be established to asses ways to
  access such satellites. Some of these are free
  others need work to establish bartering
  agreements.
• Bartering agreements have a long lead we need to
  start now!

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5. Applications Research

• Long Term Priorities.
• Short Term Priorities.

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Discussion