1. Shell SAR R&D Study for ice operations
Kim Partington, Polar Imaging
Paul Verlaan, Shell

2. Background to Study
Shell is nearing completion of its first season of custom ice monitoring in Alaska
We are entering an era of more choice for satellite SAR sensors
Good time to review SAR data strategy

3. Need to replace RADARSAT-1
2007 ops
2008 ops
2009 ops
RADARSAT-1
2005
2006
2009
2007
2008

4. Available SAR sensors X band C band L band 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
TERRASAR-X
COSMO-SKYMED-1
X band
COSMO-SKYMED-2
COSMO-SKYMED-3
COSMO-SKYMED-4
ENVISAT
RADARSAT-1
C band
RADARSAT-2
RISAT
ALOS
L band
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

5. Objectives
To make recommendations to Shell with regard to their 2008 SAR planning for ice operations
To consider both:
Imaging capabilities of new SAR sensors
Fit of different sensors to Shell operational requirements

6. Traditional SAR issues that can now be addressed..
Limited backup and redundancy
Sub-optimal revisit
Imaging ambiguities
Operational issues
Ordering lead time
Price }
Consider more than one SAR
Use more than one polarisation (/frequency?)
Capabilities are improving, not sure about price!

7. Various options…

8. Dual Polarisation ScanSAR
X band
Credit NASA JPL
C band
RADARSAT-2
RISAT
L band
2005
2006
2009
2007
2008

9. X band ScanSAR X band C band L band 2005 2006 2009 2007 2008
COSMO-SKYMED
Sub-daily revisit
C band
L band
2005
2006
2009
2007
2008

10. Plus others.. ALOS L band ScanSAR Global mode?
Finer resolution polarimetric mode for occasional detailed operations?
Complementary combinations of the afore-mentioned
Credit Vexcel UK and ESA

11. Study Plan

12. Shell R&D study: areas Camden Bay Circumpolar Flaw Lead study area
Shell operations
Potential validation from operations
Custom ice charting
Circumpolar Flaw Lead study area
Scientific campaign coordinated by University of Manitoba
Ship and airborne observations
Potential links to CIS validation plans for RADARSAT-2

13. Shell R&D Study: Data Collection
TERRASAR-X
R&D study data
X band
Operational data
COSMO-SKYMED
ENVISAT
RADARSAT-1
C band
RADARSAT-2
RISAT
ALOS
L band
2005
2006
2009
2007
2008

14. Shell R&D study: data plan
TerraSAR-X Stripmap
Cosmo-Skymed ScanSAR HH
ALOS ScanSAR HH
ENVISAT AP mode
24 Oct
31 Oct
7 Nov
14 Nov
21 Nov
28 Nov
Camden Bay
Circumpolar Flaw Lead (CFL) Study area
TerraSAR-X Stripmap
Cosmo-Skymed ScanSAR HH
ALOS ScanSAR HH
7 Nov
14 Nov
21 Nov
28 Nov
ENVISAT AP mode
24 Oct
31 Oct
7 Nov
14 Nov
21 Nov
28 Nov

15. Study Outcome
Provide a report in March 2008 in time for 2008 planning covering:
Imaging benefits of the different sensors
Operational strengths and weaknesses of the different sensors
Acquisition plan strategies
Include:
X band vs C band vs L band
Dual pol vs single pol
Focus on freeze-up conditions including young ice

16. Conclusions We are now entering a new era for SAR remote sensing
Much improved potential for ice monitoring
But needs work to realise potential
Shell is investigating what can be done for ice monitoring in time for the 2008 season
Any changes to default plan will depend on cost and operational performance as well as technical capabilities of different sensors
Interested to talk to others with interests in comparison of the different SAR sensors

17. Thank-you!