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BioSar: An Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar System for the Remote Sensing of Carbon

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-01ER83346
Agency Tracking Number: 65177S01-II
Amount: $749,193.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2002
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
8229 Boone Blvd., Suite #300
Vienna, VA 22182
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Patrick Johnson
 (301) 371-3584
 pjohns@erols.com
Business Contact
 Mary Blevins
Title: 65177
Phone: (703) 883-0506
Email: mblevins@zai-amxlex
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

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, BioSAR, for the measurement of terrestrial biomass in heavily wooded areas. In Phase I, the additions and modifications required to adapt the BioSAR hardware and software systems for the measurement of carbon were defined, a prototype was designed, and the end-user requirements were identified. Phase II will fabricate, install, integrate, and demonstrate the airborne performance of the prototype designed in Phase I. Two missions will be conducted to refine the coefficients of the new carbon sensing algorithms and to demonstrate the capability of the system to provide for the rapid and accurate remote measurement of biomass, carbon, and board feet per acre. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the 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.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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