Ground-Water Monitoring System for Multiple Sensors

65177 Remote sensing is required for the measurement of sequestered carbon in heavily wooded areas. Airborne or satellite borne radar measurement systems would be preferred due to their ability to cover large areas rapidly and be used in all weather conditions, both day and night. However, existing airborne and satellite radar sensor systems have frequencies above 400 MHz, which cannot penetrate the thick canopies of heavily wooded areas. A lower frequency (<400 MHz) radar system is needed, but at these frequencies large antennas are requirements for imaging. This project will modify a low frequency (100 MHz) non-imaging airborne radar system for the measurement of terrestrial biomass in heavily wooded areas. Phase I will modify the design of the hardware and software elements of this radar system to measure the amount of sequestered carbon and the amount of useable lumber in board-feet per acre. Phase II will fabricate, install, integrate, and demonstrate the airborne performance of the prototype designed in Phase I. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by awardee: The lumber industry should benefit from the proposed sensor¿s ability to rapidly and accurately measure the board-feet per acre contained in commercial forests. The measure of timber before and after forest fires could provide a measure of timber destroyed. The proposed sensor could provide a significant improvement in the ability to inventory commercial standing timber for tax purposes.