Overview
RADARSAT-1 is a commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, which unlike optical satellites can acquire images of the Earth day or night, and is not affected by cloud cover. Launched on November 4, 1995 by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, RADARSAT-1 offers various imaging modes and resolutions.
Hatfield has worked extensively with RADARSAT-1 data since launch. RADARSAT-1 is a C-band SAR instrument, and is particularly suited for:
- Flood mapping.
- Wetland mapping.
- Agriculture monitoring.
- Oceanography, including vessel detection, oil slick, and aquaculture mapping.
- Coastal monitoring.
- Lake, river and sea Ice monitoring.
- Subsidence mapping (using interferometry).
Hatfield developed the Nile River Awareness Kit , which provides a background on different satellite sensors, and case studies on how satellite imagery can be used for environmental management.
Image Product Specifications
A detailed guide is available 
; the following are the most commonly used beam modes:
- Fine Mode – 8 m nominal resolution. Ideal for detailed mapping
- Standard Mode – 25 m nominal resolution. Useful for medium scale mapping over relatively large areas.
- ScanSAR Narrow – 50 m nominal resolution, but covers large areas. Ideal for flood mapping and oceanography.
The following are the most commonly used products:
- Map Image – designed for users who require modest absolute geometric accuracy, and/or large area coverage.
- Precision Map Image – designed for users who require an image product witha high degree of geometric accuracy, or if an image was acquired over mountainous terrain (subject to availability of Ground Control Points and Digital Elevation Model).
- Path Image – designed for users who have advanced image processing capabilities, and who will complete orthorecification and other processing.
| Beam Mode | Image Width | Resolution (approx) |
Incidence Angle |
| Standard | 100km | 25 m | 20–49° |
| Wide | 150km | 30m | 20–45° |
| Fine | 50km | 8m | 35–49° |
| ScanSAR (Narrow) | 300km | 50m | 20–40° 32–46° |
| ScanSAR (Wide) | 500km | 100m | 20–49° 20–46° |
| Extended (High) | 75km | 25m | 50–60° |
| Extended (Low) | 75km | 35m | 10–20° |
Note: a single image has equal width and length, but longer lengths are possible.
| Orbital Altitude | 798km |
| Scanning method | Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) |
| Repeat period | 24 days (7–17 day sub-cycles) |
| Frequency/ Wavelength | C-band: 5.3 GHz/ 5.6 cm |
| Polarisation | hh |
| Map or Path Image | Precision Map Image (Ortho) |
|
| RADARSAT-1 Beam Modes | $3,600 | $4,500 |
| Standard Mode | $3,600 | $4,500 |
| Wide Mode | $3,600 | $4,500 |
| Fine Mode | $3,600 | $4,500 |
| SCANSAR (Narrow) Mode | $3,600 | N/A |
| SCANSAR (Wide) Mode | $3,600 | N/A |
| Extended (High) Mode | $3,600 | $4,500 |
| Extended (Low) Mode | $3,600 | $4,500 |
All prices in $US. Imagery subject to $100 programming fee. Near-Real-Time and Rush processing is available. For enquiries on acquisition priorities, it is recommended that you contact Hatfield’s remote sensing specialists to discuss your options. Imagery may qualify for Archive Pricing.
Contact Hatfield
For details of pricing and licensing of RADARSAT products, or to simply discuss your geoinformation needs, please contact one of Hatfield’s Remote Sensing Specialists.
| World-wide contact: Simon Hughes Remote Sensing and GIS Specialist e-mail: geomatics@hatfieldgroup.com telephone: +1 604-926-3261 |
In Indonesia, contact: |
