POSSIBILITY OF HIGH-FREQUENCY OBSERVATION OF INUNDATION AREA BY SMALL SAR SATELLITES CONSTELLATION

Abstract

 In a disaster management, a SAR satellite is an effective tool to extract inundation areas since it enables remote observation over wide areas even at night or in a cloudy situation. At present observation opportunities of SAR satellites are limited to about twice a day. However, thanks to the recent technological innovations in miniaturization of SAR satellites, high-frequency observations by small SAR constellations could be possible in the future. In this research, a constellation of small SAR satellites was designed with Walker Constellation method, and it was demonstrated that 40 satellites can accomplish 1 hourly observation. Combining this assumed condition with hourly flood plain water depth of CaMa-Flood, the cover ratio of flood area by the observation was analyzed and the constraints were indicated as a specific case.