1. Earth Observation Program
Riccardo Maggiora, CTO of the 4C Group
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

2. GulfSAR satellites
• Gulf Satellites will offer solutions to
improve the earth observation with its high
Earth observation/
resolution radar satellite program called imaging satellites
GulfSAR
• Strategic alliances with strong and Communications
experienced selected partners ensures satellites
risk reduction and a short time-to-market
• First satellite will be launched by the Astronomical
beginning 2012 satellites
BUS Navigational
satellites
Payload Weather
satellites
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

3. SAR principle of operation
SAR Antenna
Backscattered Pulse
Incident
RADAR Pulse
Synthetic Aperture RADAR
is an active instrument:
day&night, all weather
operations, large amount of
data Ground Targets
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

4. Orbits: inclination
• All GulfSAR orbits are low earth
orbits symmetric with respect to
the equator
• Low inclination orbits (near-
equatorial, 37.6°) give only
partial access to Earth but with
low revisit time
• High inclination orbits (polar)
allow access to the whole Earth
but with higher revisit time (like
the COSMO-SkyMed ones)
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

5. Overview of existing SAR satellites
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

6. GulfSAR: main characteristics
• High-resolution X-band SAR: up to1 meter ground sampling distance
• Real-time imaging (short collection time): acquired data transmitted to
ground immediately after acquisition
• Orbit altitude of 536 km, 96-minute period, low inclination
• Operational in left or right looking mode
• > 25 images/orbit/satellite (> 400 images/day/satellite)
• Service life of more than five years
• Weight:1750 kg
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

7. Access from 43°S to 43°N
229km Extended Range
Right Accessibility
570km Swath
341km Nominal Range
195km
Satellite
Ground Track
Nominal Range
Left Accessibility
Swath
Extended Range
Note: background image indicates access area, not orbit track
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

8. COSMO-SkyMed (polar) access to
Abu Dhabi 20/02/09 to 27/02/09
24
18
COSMO-SkyMed 1
12
COSMO-SkyMed 2
6
0
20-feb 21-feb 22-feb 23-feb 24-feb 25-feb 26-feb 27-feb
Total: 17 accesses
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

9. GulfSAR (equatorial) access to
Abu Dhabi 20/02/09 to 27/02/09
24
18
GulfSAR 1
12
GulfSAR 2
6
019-feb
20-feb 21-feb 22-feb 23-feb 24-feb 25-feb 26-feb 27-feb
Total: 25 accesses
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

10. Constellation
• To improve revisit time and system
reliability, a constellation of
satellites can be very effective
• Our constellation will initially consist
of two satellites, increasing to four
satellites in subsequent years
• Satellites are added on orbits with:
– Same inclination
– Different RAAN (0°, 180°, 90°,
270°)
– Same argument of perigee
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

11. Constellation behavior
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

12. Revisit time 4 satellites
20
SAUDI UAE IRAN
18
ARABIA
16
14
12
Time (hours)
Minimum
10 Maximum
Average
8
6
4
2
0
Latitude (degrees)
-10 0 10 20 30 40
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

13. Satellite operation overview
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

14. SAR operative modes
GulfSAR satellite can operate in different modes:
• Enhanced spotlight (ES): 1m Ground Sampling Distance (GSD)
10 Km
10 Km
• Stripmap: 3m GSD, 40km x 40km
• ScanSAR: 20m GSD, 100km x 100km
1 pixel -> 1 x 1 m2
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

15. Ground segment overall architecture
X-band data
D/L
S-band Customers orders
TT&C D/L MUC Order follow-up
& U/L
MSC
X-band data USC-n
Image data products
D/L
End Users
SAR Satellites System
GPS ranging
Manufacturer
signals GulfSAR System Ground Segment SW patches
Calibration
GPS Constellation ODB update
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

16. Applications
• Security and defense
• Risk management and environmental
monitoring
• Maritime management
• Cartography and planning
• Geology and exploration
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

17. 4C Group Present Activities
• 4C SatImage, domiciled in the Isle of Man, holds exclusive master
rights to distribute commercial satellite images from the three in-orbit
COSMO-SkyMed SAR satellites to major players in the Middle East,
North Africa and South East Asia.
• The Gulf Earth Observation Center, under construction in ICAD, will
host the first SAR satellite data Direct Receiving Station (DRS) and
exploiting center in the Middle-East
• A space engineering university will be established inside the Gulf Earth
Observation Center. This project will be carried out in cooperation with
POLITECNICO DI TORINO, one of Europe’s most distinguished
science and technology institute, and e-GEOS S.p.A., a subsidary of
TELESPAZIO S.p.A.
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

18. Multitemporal Analysis
(Wadi Sha’am – Ras al Durah)
Moving target are defocused along azimuth
27/05/09
Azimut
04/06/09
12/06/09

19. Multitemporal Analysis
(Wadi Sha’am – Ras al Durah)
27/05/09
Boats/ships 04/06/09
12/06/09
Azimut
Still cars
Moving cars
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

20. Coherent Change Detection
(Uadi beit )
07/06/09
08/06/09
Coherence
Copyright©2009 4C Controls Inc.

21. Ship and Oil Slick Detection
(Hormutz)