|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a digital imaging system that utilises microwaves to create highly detailed images, has significant implications for various fields. It has the ability to capture images day or night in fog, rain, or cloudy weather and is adaptable to multiple vehicle platforms, including satellites, planes, and drones.
Researcher, Farohaji Kurniawan, from the Aviation Technology Research Centre (PRTP) – Organisation for Aviation and Space Research (ORPA), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), emphasised the versatility and potential applications of SAR. “SAR can be utilised in military, agriculture, disaster management, maritime, and national security. It is currently being refined using ground vehicles for enhanced safety and performance,” he said.
Indonesia’s Rumpin Radar and Aerosenses Lab (RURAL), led by Farohaji, is pioneering SAR technology research and development in the country. This team aims to independently master SAR technology and create a lasting legacy in radar and digital imaging. The RURAL team is making significant strides in collaboration with various research organisations within BRIN, such as the Telecommunications Research Centre – Electronics and Informatics Research Organisation and the Polymer Technology Research Centre – Nanotechnology and Materials Research Organisation.
“We have partially tested several supporting components of the SAR system, including horn antennas, planar antennas, back-scattering calibration, and various RF components. We are also replacing commercial parts with our research components. This year, we tested these systems from building tops and plan to conduct flight tests using UAVs by late 2024 or early 2025,” Farohaji explained.
The upcoming UAV flight tests necessitate complex preparations, including detailed route and location planning. The team’s future roadmap includes developing more minor, lighter SAR systems for quadrotors, small UAVs, and ground-based SAR (GB-SAR) systems for infrastructure monitoring. “GB-SAR can detect cracks, shifts, or damages in buildings, roads, bridges, and dams. It can also be used for disaster mitigation by monitoring mountains, hills, or steep cliffs prone to landslides,” Farohaji added.
SAR technology addresses the limitations of Real Aperture Radar (RAR) and optical sensors, providing high-resolution imaging even in obstructed environments. Unlike passive satellites that struggle in adverse conditions, SAR can capture clear images regardless of cloud cover or dense vegetation.
“SAR synthesises the antenna width on the azimuth side to produce high-resolution images. It’s also called side-looking radar because it captures images at a 30 to 60-degree angle from the vehicle’s normal trajectory,” Farohaji elaborated.
Despite its advantages, SAR technology has challenges, such as producing black-and-white images and generating large data files. High research costs have also hindered the full mastery of SAR in Indonesia.
Farohaji described the SAR system’s operation, highlighting the critical role of the antenna system, which functions as the sensor. “The antenna in a SAR system is like a pair of eyes, capturing signals from objects. The design and capabilities of this antenna are tailored to the system’s needs, whether on L-Band, C-Band, or X-band. Currently, we have developed a pair of identical antennas functioning as both transmitter and receiver,” he explained.
SAR’s ability to integrate with digital technology and IT/ICT infrastructures positions it as a transformative tool for data acquisition and analysis, enhancing digital imaging capabilities across various sectors. As research progresses, SAR technology promises to revolutionise how to capture and interpret digital images, offering unprecedented clarity and reliability.
Looking ahead, the development and integration of SAR technology within digital infrastructures are poised to create a new era of advanced data analytics and image processing. The ongoing advancements in SAR technology will significantly impact fields like environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster response.
