A new course in September 2014

Dr Jeanine Engelbrecht, Senior Researcher in the field of Synthetic Aperture Radar at the CSIR Meraka Institute in Rosebank, Cape Town, will be presenting in the University of Cape Town a course on Applications of Imaging Radar from 1 to 4 September 2014.

Dr Engelbrecht has over 10 years of remote sensing and spatial analysis experience. Her research and development focus has been on exploiting SAR technologies for a variety of applications including geological applications, hydrological applications and engineering geological aspects.

Her course will introduce participants to the principles of imaging radar with a particular focus on end-user applications, looking, for instance, at how signal processing of data collected from satellite-borne sensors can aid in the extraction of biophysical and geophysical parameters.

The backscattering characteristics of SAR signals will be identified, and students will learn how the information can be applied for 1) food security, 2) environmental applications, 3) disaster monitoring and relief, 4) defence peace safety and security and 6) human environments.

The course will consist of theory lectures as well as practical hands-on sessions in SAR image processing for a variety of applications.

More information can be found in this PDF: EEE 5012Z (2014) – Applications of Imaging Radar.

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Lockheed Martin and Rowan University Partner on Radar Technology

Lockheed Martin and Rowan University are kicking off an innovative, strategic partnership to develop new technologies for a broad range of radar system applications in support of national defense. As threats to the United States become increasingly more complex, this next generation of radar technology is critical to protecting national assets and requires the dedication of an educated workforce.

Lockheed Martin and the University, which have collaborated on projects as part of the Rowan College of Engineering clinic program, are working together to expand their current partnership to conduct research and develop technology.

Research activities will be conducted at the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University in Mantua Township, N.J., about a mile from Rowan’s main campus in Glassboro. As research activities expand in scope, these activities will be accommodated at the planned second building at the Technology Park, which opened its first structure—the Samuel H. Jones Innovation Center—in 2008. The Innovation Center, at the juncture of Routes 55 and 322, is home to 16 sponsored College of Engineering research labs, among other offices.

New invisibility cloak makes objects undetectable to radar

Researchers claim that a new invisibility cloak can make certain objects undetectable even to radar.

George Eleftheriades, an electrical and computer engineering professor at the University of Toronto, along with his graduate student, Michael Selvanayagam, said that they can hide a metal cylinder from radar detection, or even make a metal cylinder appear bigger, smaller or look like plastic.

"We came up with a different way of cloaking," said Eleftheriades "We can make things invisible or we can camouflage them. Let me explain."

Eleftheriades says that to understand how cloaking works someone should first know how a radar works. The professor explains that when light hits any object it bounces back and makes the object visible to the eyes. Similarly, when radio waves hit an object it bounces back to the radar detector, which in turn reveals the object. The concept is very similar to noise-canceling feature in headphones.