Session
Session III: Where We're Going Section 2
Abstract
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) bistatic remote sensing involves studying the signals transmitted by navigation satellites, such as those of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and in the future those of the Galileo constellation after they have reflected from the Earth’s surface. These signals are constantly being scattered off the seas and land, and they contain valuable and varied information on the Earth’s surface. Ground-based and airborne applications of this method for ocean, land and ice sensing have been explored in both theoretical and experimental studies. A significant step towards assessing this technique in space came with the launch of the designated GPS reflections experiment on the UK Disaster Monitoring Constellation satellite in 2003. GPS reflected signals are now being detected regularly from low Earth orbit using the experiment on board the UK-DMC. Many in the scientific community are convinced that this is a viable method for ocean sensing at satellite altitudes. It is now possible that dangerous seas can be distinguished from passable ones thus enabling a very useful low-cost application. A low-cost constellation of this sort could be used to backup or augment the existing systems of dangerous sea detection already in place. This paper will examine ocean reflected GPS signals received by the UK-DMC under different roughness conditions and make comparisons with in-situ buoy measurements. Additionally, a plan will be presented proposing how this technology could provide a low-cost system capable of good spatial coverage and quick measurement repeat times in helping to prevent maritime accidents caused by dangerous sea conditions.
Presentation Slides
A Global System for Dangerous Sea Monitoring Using Space Based GPS Bistatic Remote Sensing
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) bistatic remote sensing involves studying the signals transmitted by navigation satellites, such as those of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and in the future those of the Galileo constellation after they have reflected from the Earth’s surface. These signals are constantly being scattered off the seas and land, and they contain valuable and varied information on the Earth’s surface. Ground-based and airborne applications of this method for ocean, land and ice sensing have been explored in both theoretical and experimental studies. A significant step towards assessing this technique in space came with the launch of the designated GPS reflections experiment on the UK Disaster Monitoring Constellation satellite in 2003. GPS reflected signals are now being detected regularly from low Earth orbit using the experiment on board the UK-DMC. Many in the scientific community are convinced that this is a viable method for ocean sensing at satellite altitudes. It is now possible that dangerous seas can be distinguished from passable ones thus enabling a very useful low-cost application. A low-cost constellation of this sort could be used to backup or augment the existing systems of dangerous sea detection already in place. This paper will examine ocean reflected GPS signals received by the UK-DMC under different roughness conditions and make comparisons with in-situ buoy measurements. Additionally, a plan will be presented proposing how this technology could provide a low-cost system capable of good spatial coverage and quick measurement repeat times in helping to prevent maritime accidents caused by dangerous sea conditions.
