• Korean Journal of Geomatics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2002

Accurate classification of water area is an preliminary step to accurately analyze the flooded area and damages caused by flood. This step is especially useful for monitoring the region where annually repeating flood is a problem. The accurate estimation of flooded area can ultimately be utilized as a primary source of information for the policy decision. Although SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery with its own energy source is sensitive to the water area, its shadow effect similar to the reflectance signature of the water area should be carefully checked before accurate classification. Especially when we want to identify small flood area with mountainous environment, the step for removing shadow effect turns out to be essential in order to accurately classify the water area from the SAR imagery. In this paper, the flood area was classified and monitored using multi-temporal RADARSAT SAR images of Ok-Chun and Bo-Eun located in Chung-Book Province taken in 12th (during the flood) and 19th (after the flood) of August, 1998. We applied several steps of geometric and radiometric calculations to the SAR imagery. First we reduced the speckle noise of two SAR images and then calculated the radar backscattering coefficient $(\sigma^0)$. After that we performed the ortho-rectification via satellite orbit modeling developed in this study using the ephemeris information of the satellite images and ground control points. We also corrected radiometric distortion caused by the terrain relief. Finally, the water area was identified from two images and the flood area is calculated accordingly. The identified flood area is analyzed by overlapping with the existing land use map.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2019

The observation satellites which uses high heat-dissipating equipment such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites require a radiator to transmit heat from the equipment into outer space. However, during cold conditions it requires a heater to maintain the temperature of equipment within the allowable minimum limit when it is not in operation. In this study, we proposed a variable conductivity radiator that changes its thermal conductivity value through movement of the liquid metal between two reservoirs based on the temperature condition. This reduces the power consumption of the heater by limiting heat transfer path to the radiator in cold condition, while effectively transferring heat to the radiator during hot condition. The feasibility of the proposed radiator was validated through comparison of the thermal control performance with the conventional fixed conductivity radiator via a thermal analysis.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.57-73
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• 1997

This paper is related to the correction of radiometric distortions induced by topographic relief. RADARSAT SAR image data were obtained over the mountainous area near southern part of Seoul. Initially, the SAR data was geometrically corrected and registered to plane rectangular coordinates so that each pixel of the SAR image has known topographic parameters. The topographic parameters (slope and aspect) at each pixel position were calculated from the digital elevation model (DEM) data having a comparable spatial resolution with the SAR data. Local incidence angle between the incoming microwave and the surface normal to terrain slope was selected as a primary geometric factor to analyze and to correct the radiometric distortions. Using digital maps of forest stands, several fields of rather homogeneous forest stands were delineated over the SAR image. Once the effects of local incidence angle on the radar backscatter were defined, the radiometric correction was performed by an empirical fuction that was derived from the relationship between the geometric parameters and mean radar backscatter. The correction effects were examined by ground truth data.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 1994

The JERS-1 is an Earth Resources Satellite launched by NASDA (Natinal Space Development Agency) of Japan, in February in 1992 and has two sensors; SAR(L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar) and OPS (SWIR and VNIR radiometers). In this research note, the basic properties and data characteristics of the SAR data are summarized based on the observations made on the data sets received for the Nahanni Canadian test site, Northwest Territories. The JERS-1 SAR data quality. including the spatial resolution of the data, is, in general, excellent for most geological applications.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.375-386
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• 2022

The city of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, was heavily damaged by the flood of the Nile in 2020. Classification using satellite images can define the damaged area and help emergency response. As Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) uses microwave that can penetrate cloud, it is suitable to use in the flood study. In this study, Random Forest classifier, one of the supervised classification algorithms, was applied to the flood event in Khartoum with various sizes of the training dataset and number of images using Sentinel-1 SAR. To create a training dataset, we used unsupervised classification and visual inspection. Firstly, Random Forest was performed by reducing the size of each class of the training dataset, but no notable difference was found. Next, we performed Random Forest with various number of images. Accuracy became better as the number of images in creased, but converged to a maximum value when the dataset covers the duration from flood to the completion of drainage.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.5-5
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• 2023

제3차 우주개발 진흥 기본계획의 일환으로써 개발되는 차세대 중형위성 5호인 수자원위성은 수자원/수재해 감시 전용 위성으로 2025년 발사 예정이다. 수자원위성의 메인 센서인 C-band 영상레이더(Synthetic Aperture Radar, SAR)는 기상조건 및 주야 상관없이 지표면 관측이 가능한 센서로 급변하는 수재해 양상에 효과적으로 대응하기 위해 탑재된 센서이다. 본 연구사업은 차세대 수자원위성의 효과적 활용 방안 및 SAR 자료기반의 활용산출물 및 주제도 서비스를 위한 알고리즘 구조설계 및 표출시스템 시범개발을 목표로 하고 있으며, 홍수/가뭄/안전/환경모니터링을 주제로 수자원 및 원격탐사 분야의 다학제적 전문가들로 구성된 컨소시엄을 구성하여 추진하고 있다. 본 연구의 내용은 가뭄 모니터링을 위해 개발 중인 SAR 기반 토양수분과 농업적 가뭄지수 산정 알고리즘 개발 및 공간적 표출을 포함한다. 토양수분은 SAR 영상에서 지표피복별로 추출된 후방산란계수와 수문학적 개념의 융합을 통해 논/밭/산림에 대해 산정한다. 물리적 특성에 기반한 변화탐지모델을 활용해 토양수분량을 추출 후, 기계학습기법과 S C S - C N 방법에서 파생된 수문학적 개념 5일 선행강우량과 결합한 토양수분 산정 알고리즘을 개발하였다. 산정된 토양수분을 기반으로, 논 지역은 벼 재배에 따른 담수 시기를 고려한 토양의 포화/불포화상태, 밭 지역은 토양 종류에 따른 토양의 물리적 특성, 산림 지역은 수문학적 개념 및 식생지수를 활용하여 가뭄 판단 기준을 구축하고, 가뭄의 해갈 여부와 해갈되는 시점의 강우량을 산정 가능한 알고리즘을 개발하였다. 개발된 가뭄 모니터링 기법은 향후 고도화, 최적화 및 안정화를 통해 수자원위성의 핵심 활용기술로써 구현할 계획이다.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_3
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• pp.1457-1468
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• 2018

The sigma naught (${\sigma}^0$) equation is essential to calculate geo-physical properties from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images for the applications such as ground target identification,surface classification, sea wind speed calculation, and soil moisture estimation. In this paper, we are suggesting new Kompsat-5 (K5) Radar Cross Section (RCS) and ${\sigma}^0$ equations reflecting the final SAR processor update and absolute radiometric calibration in order to increase the application of K5 SAR images. Firstly, we analyzed the accuracy of the K5 RCS equation by using trihedral corner reflectors installed in the Kompsat calibration site in Mongolia. The average difference between the calculated values using RCS equation and the measured values with K5 SAR processor was about $0.2dBm^2$ for Spotlight and Stripmap imaging modes. In addition, the verification of the K5 ${\sigma}^0$ equation was carried out using the TerraSAR-X (TSX) and Sentinel-1A (S-1A) SAR images over Amazon rainforest, where the backscattering characteristics are not significantly affected by the seasonal change. The calculated ${\sigma}^0$ difference between K5 and TSX/S-1A was less than 0.6 dB. Considering the K5 absolute radiometric accuracy requirement, which is 2.0 dB ($1{\sigma}$), the average difference of $0.2dBm^2$ for RCS equation and the maximum difference of 0.6 dB for ${\sigma}^0$ equation show that the accuracies of the suggested equations are relatively high. In the future, the validity of the suggested RCS and ${\sigma}^0$ equations is expected to be verified through the application such as sea wind speed calculation, where quantitative analysis is possible.

• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1069-1080
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• 2018

The Alaskan Aleutian Islands form one of the world's largest volcanic island chains. The islands are exposed to both direct and indirect damage from continuous volcanic eruptions. Surface deformation is mostly observed before volcanic eruption, but with some volcanoes, such as Ontake Volcano, deformations cannot be detected. In this study, we analyzed volcanic eruptions in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands, which is a region of frequent volcanic eruptions. Based on our results, we predicted the type of eruption that would occur on Baekdusan Volcano according to the presence or absence of surface deformation. For this purpose, 10 sites were selected from areas where recent volcanic activity had occurred in the Aleutian Islands. Additionally, Advanced Land Observing Satellite Phased Array-type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (ALOS-PALSAR) and European Remote Sensing (ERS)-1/2 satellite data were obtained from 10 experimental sites. Based on the radar satellite data, the volcanic surface deformations were identified, and the characteristics of the volcanic eruption were quantitatively calculated by determining the presence of surface deformation. The results of this study should facilitate the process of correlation between volcanic eruption and surface deformation.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2010

Since the change in Doppler centroid according to moving targets brings alteration to the phase in azimuth differential signals of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, one can measure the velocity of the moving targets using this effect. In this study, we will investigate theoretically measuring the velocity of an object from azimuth differential signals by using range compressed data which is the interim outcome of treatment from the simulated SAR raw data of moving targets on the background of sea clutter. Also, it will provide evaluation for the elements that affect the estimation error of velocity from a single SAR sensor. By making RADARSAT-1 simulated image as a specific case, the research includes comparisons for the means of velocity measurement classified by the directions of movement in the four following cases. 1. A case of a single target without currents, 2. A case of a single target with tidal currents of 0.5 m/s, 1 m/s, and 3 m/s, 3. A case of two targets on a same azimuth line moving in a same direction and velocity, 4. A case of a single target contiguous to land where radar backscatter is strong. As a result, when two moving targets exist in SAR image outside the range of approximately 256 pixels, the velocity of the object can be measured with high accuracy. However, when other moving targets exist in the range of approximately 128 pixels or when the target was contiguous to the land of strong backscatter coefficient (NRCS: normalized radar cross section), the estimated velocity was in error by 10% at the maximum. This is because in the process of assuming the target's location, an error occurs due to the differential signals affected by other scatterers.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.617-623
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• 2019

Numerous water disasters have recently occurred all over the world, including South Korea, due to global climate change in recent years. As water-related disasters occur extensively and their sites are difficult for people to access, it is necessary to monitor them using satellites. The Ministry of Environment and K-water plan to launch the next-generation medium satellite No. 5 (water resource/water disaster satellite) equipped with C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in 2025. C-band SAR has the advantage of being able to observe water resources twice a day at a high resolution both day and night, regardless of weather conditions. Currently, RADARSAT-2 and Sentinel-1 equipped with C-band SAR achieve the purpose of their launch and are used in various environmental fields such as forest structure detection and coastline change monitoring, as well as for unique purposes including the detection of flooding, drought and soil moisture change, utilizing the advantages of SAR. As such, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the next-generation medium satellite No. 5 and its application in environmental fields. Our findings showed that it can be used to improve the degree of precision of existing environmental spatial information such as the classification accuracy of land cover map in environmental field works. It also enables us to observe forests and water resources in North Korea that are difficult to access geographically. It is ultimately expected that this will enable the monitoring of the whole Korean Peninsula in various environmental fields, and help in relevant responses and policy supports.