Description:Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a special form of active radar, which uses pulse compression and Doppler history to improve range and azimuth resolution, respectively. Typical spaceborne SAR spatial resolutions are on the order of a few meters. Modern SAR is usually implemented using a phased-array antenna mounted on a moving platform such as an aircraft or a satellite illuminating a

positions are coherently detected and stored and then post-processed together to resolve elements in an image of the target region.

knowledge and skillsets as compared to remote sensing in the visible / IR wavelengths.This summer school aims to introduce SAR as an imaging radar instrument, and its use in earth remote sensing. The basic SAR imaging mechanisms will be discussed, followed by discussions on satellite-based SAR systems and SAR remote sensing applications. SAR

currents, oil spills, geology, ground subsidence, disaster analysis, and topographical measurements. A few example applications will

exercises will include application of some of the generic SAR data processing modules and functions.

Objectives:This summer school will impart knowledge about SAR as a remote sensing tool and SAR data processing & analysis tools for remote sensing applications. Please note that the summer school will not focus on SAR hardware modules or system design. The summer school objectives are:• Discuss and analyze SAR as a remote sensing tool • Discuss SAR data processing and analysis methods, with hands-on workshop modules

• Develop expertise across diverse applications in SAR remote sensing

Intended Audience: Remote sensing scientists and analysts, and specialists working in radar applications.

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of computer operations, remote sensing, geometry, and mathematics.

Technical Level: Intermediate / Advanced

3rd Summer School on Earth Remote Sensingwith Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Geospatial Research and Education LabInstitute of Space Technology, Islamabad

10th - 18th July, 2017

3rd Summer School on Earth Remote Sensingwith Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Modules:Imaging RadarIntro to radarReview of electromagnetic waves:

The microwave spectrumPolarization

PRF and pulsesPulse-width and range resolutionSLR / SLARSlant range and slant range resolutionGround range resolutionAzimuth resolutionPulse compression, FM, matched filtering

SARSynthetic AperturePulse train and Doppler resolutionResolution and time-on-targetSAR imaging modes & productsComplex and intensity dataWhy use SAR?Microwaves interaction with atmosphereAdvantages & LimitationsSatellite SAR systems

ERS-1/2EnvisatTerraSAR-X / TanDEM-XALOS PALSAR 1/2Sentinel-1Radarsat 1/2

Software ToolsCommercialOpen-sourceHands-on Activity: Exploring SAR data

Geometric Errors & Distortions in SAR ImageryCompressional distortionLayoverForeshorteningShadowingHands-on Activity: Identifying terrain errors

Radiometric CalibrationTerrain correctionBackscatter coefficientBeta-nought and sigma-noughtHands-on Activity: Radiometric calibrationHands-on Activity: Terrain correction

Speckle Noise Mathematical/statistical descriptionProbability distributions

Complex dataIntensity dataSpeckle

Speckle suppressionMultilookingSpatial filteringHands-on Activity: Speckle suppression

Physical Interaction of SAR with TargetsBasic rules for scatteringRelative permittivity and dielectric constantMoisture contentPenetration depthSurface scattering:

Normal incidenceSlanted incidenceRole of polarizationRayleigh roughness criterionSpecular and Lambertian surfaces

Volume scattering:Depolarization

Hard target scattering:Corner reflectorsMultiple bounceBackscatter from forests and trees

Ocean surface imaging:Bragg scatteringTwo-scale modelRole of wind & sea surface

Hands-on Activity: Exploring scatteringbehavior of Earth surface features in SARimageryHands-on Activity: SAR visual interpetation

SAR Intensity Images & ApplicationsPropertiesComparison with high-resolution optical imagesGeneral land remote sensingFloodsUrban areasForestry:

Canopy penetrationImpact of moistureAGB measurement

Oceanography:Sea stateUpwelling & surface slicksMarangoni dampingOil spillsOcean currentsMaritime & ship monitoring

Geology/geophysics:Palaeochannel detectionLithology & faultsMineralization

Data fusionHands-on Activity: Exploring intensityimagesHands-on ctivity: Using dB conversion

Geospatial Research and Education LabInstitute of Space Technology, Islamabad

Demo: Algorithms for biogenic slickdetection in ALOS PALSAR imageryHands-on Activity: SAR and optical/IRdata fusion

Multi-pol SAR ImagesMulti-pol imageryVisualizationMulti-pol decomposition methods:

WishartPauliCloude-PottierFreeman-Durden

Classification methodsApplicationsHands-on Activity: Exploring multi-pol SAR data

InSARBasic principles of interferometryInterferogram generationPhase informationBasic Types of InSARDifferential InSARPS InSARSBASSAR tomographySurface subsidenceDEM constructionATI velocity measurementIssues in interferometry:

CoherenceAtmospheric variabilityNoiseScale of motionAbsolute calibrationPhase unwrapping

Hands-on Activity: Exploring complex SAR dataHands-on Activity: Interferogram generationDemo: Using repeat-pass interferometry to studylandslides

Introduction to Radar AltimetryRadar altimetry principlesPulse-limited altimetryOcean surface scatteringBrown waveformSea Surface Height (SSH) measurementsOcean surface circulationCoastal altimetryRiver flood forecastingNew techniques:

Multi-frequency altimetryImaging altimeterSAR altimeter

Hands-on Activity: Exploring altimeter data

10th - 18th July, 2017

3rd Summer School on Earth Remote Sensingwith Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Instructor Profile:Dr. Waqas A. QaziDr. Waqas A. Qazi is an expert in SAR remote sensing / data analysis and holds a PhD from University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. He leads the Radar Remote Sensing group at the Geospatial Research & Education Lab (GREL), Dept. of Space Science, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad. His research interests are in remote sensing, SAR imagery and interferometric data processing & analysis, visible / IR / high-res satellite image processing & analysis, oceanography, forest biomass, and scientific programming. He is a reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Geoscience & Remote Sensing, Forest Ecosystems, GIScience & Remote Sensing, African Journal of Earth Sciences, and Italian Journal of Agronomy. He is an alumnus of Pakistan National Physics Talent Contest (NPTC), Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, and the Fulbright fellowship. He blogs at EarthEnable (http://earthenable.wordpress.com) on topics related to remote sensing, earth observation, scientific programming, and academic publishing.

Guest Speakers (Online):Dr. Muhammad Dabboor, Science & Technology Branch, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Govt. of Canada, Canada.Mr. Mirza M. Waqar, Josaphat Mircrowave Remote Sensing Laboratory, Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University, Japan.Mr. Adnan Siddique, Earth Observation and Remote Sensing group, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland.

Schedule:The summer school will be conducted over 7 working days (10-15th July and 17-18th July) with one rest weekend in between (16-17th July).

Summer School Charges:PKR 22000 for professionalsPKR 11000 for studentsPKR 5000 for IST studentsUSD 450 for internatonal participantsThe course fee includes registration, course material, refreshment and lunch on workshop days.

Last Date for Application:For international participants: 21st May, 2017For local participants: 23rd June, 2017

Venue:Geospatial Research & Education LabDept. of Space ScienceInstitute of Space TechnologyIslamabad, Pakistan

Contact info:Dr. Waqas QaziDept. of Space ScienceInstitute of Space Technology1, Islamabad Highway(near CDA Toll Plaza)Islamabad, Pakistanwaqas.qazi@grel.ist.edu.pk051-9075583Apply and Register Online:

http://grel.ist.edu.pk or https://goo.gl/EkVwCA

Geospatial Research and Education LabInstitute of Space Technology, Islamabad

10th - 18th July, 2017

Accomodation:Accomodation will be provided for international participants at no extra charge.Local participants are advised to contact us if in need of accomodation; we prefer that they arrange accomodation on their own.