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CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

SAR payloads course on satellites

Online course of 300 hours in SAR payloads on satellites, structured in 6 modules covering synthetic aperture radar principles, SAR payload architecture, acquisition modes, SAR image processing, calibration and applications, and a final project, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the operating principles of synthetic aperture radar.

02

Analyse the architecture of a SAR payload.

03

Design acquisition modes and timing diagrams.

04

Apply processing algorithms and interferometric techniques.

05

Calibrate SAR products and validate their quality.

06

Assess applications of SAR observation.

07

Produce the preliminary design of a SAR payload.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Radar engineers moving into spaceborne SAR.
  • Payload engineers working on Earth observation instruments.
  • SAR processing specialists.
  • Remote sensing analysts who work with radar imagery.
  • Calibration engineers.
  • Observation systems engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter Earth observation.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ITU Radio Regulations (international regulation of radio spectrum use)
  • Recommendation ITU-R RS.1166 (performance and interference criteria for active spaceborne sensors)
  • CEOS-ARD Normalised Radar Backscatter (analysis ready data specification for SAR backscatter)
  • ISO 19115-2 (geographic information metadata for imagery and gridded data)
  • ISO 19130-1 (imagery sensor models for geopositioning)
  • ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
  • ESA SNAP
  • ISCE
  • GAMMA Software
  • MATLAB
  • Python with GDAL
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Radar equation and radar cross-section
  2. 1.2Range resolution and pulse compression
  3. 1.3Linear chirp and bandwidth
  4. 1.4Synthetic aperture and azimuth resolution
  5. 1.5Side-looking geometry
  6. 1.6Range and azimuth ambiguities
  7. 1.7X, C, L and P bands
  8. 1.8Sentinel-1, TerraSAR-X and PAZ missions
  9. 1.9Acquisition geometry and incidence angle
  10. 1.10Workshop: resolution calculation for a SAR system
  1. 2.1Phased array antennas
  2. 2.2Transmit/receive (T/R) modules
  3. 2.3Waveform generation
  4. 2.4Receive chain and digitisation
  5. 2.5BAQ data compression
  6. 2.6Antenna power and thermal control
  7. 2.7Internal calibration
  8. 2.8Deployable reflector antennas
  9. 2.9Design of the high-speed data chain
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: power budget of an active antenna
  1. 3.1Stripmap
  2. 3.2ScanSAR and TOPS
  3. 3.3Spotlight and sliding spotlight
  4. 3.4Polarimetry
  5. 3.5Wave modes and oceanography
  6. 3.6PRF selection
  7. 3.7NESZ and radiometric quality
  8. 3.8Timing diagrams
  9. 3.9Bistatic and multistatic modes
  10. 3.10Lab: timing design with a diamond diagram
  1. 4.1Range-Doppler algorithm
  2. 4.2Chirp scaling and omega-k algorithms
  3. 4.3Focusing and autofocus
  4. 4.4Speckle and filtering
  5. 4.5Geometric and radiometric correction
  6. 4.6InSAR interferometry
  7. 4.7Coherence and deformation
  8. 4.8Level 1 and Level 2 products
  9. 4.9Geocoding and digital terrain models
  10. 4.10Case study: processing a Sentinel-1 product in SNAP
  1. 5.1External calibration with reflectors
  2. 5.2Absolute radiometric calibration
  3. 5.3Product validation
  4. 5.4Subsidence monitoring
  5. 5.5Ship detection
  6. 5.6Emergency management
  7. 5.7Agriculture and forestry
  8. 5.8Small SAR constellations
  9. 5.9Interpretation of SAR images
  10. 5.10Case study: deformation map with InSAR
  1. 6.1User requirements
  2. 6.2Band and mode selection
  3. 6.3Antenna design
  4. 6.4Timing design
  5. 6.5Power and data budget
  6. 6.6Imaging performance
  7. 6.7Processing chain
  8. 6.8Calibration plan
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ESA SNAP, ISCE, GAMMA Software, MATLAB and Python with GDAL, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: timing design of a SAR system in LEO, processing of Sentinel-1 images and generation of interferograms, and assessment of the radiometric quality of a SAR product. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: ITU Radio Regulations, Recommendation ITU-R RS.1166, CEOS-ARD Normalised Radar Backscatter, ISO 19115-2, ISO 19130-1, ECSS-E-ST-10-03C.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the ITU Radio Regulations, Recommendation ITU-R RS.1166 and CEOS-ARD Normalised Radar Backscatter applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:ESA SNAP, ISCE, GAMMA Software, MATLAB, Python with GDAL, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:preliminary design of a SAR payload, from user requirements and band and mode selection to antenna and timing design, power and data budget, processing chain and calibration plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

User requirements and mode
Define the user requirements and select the band and acquisition mode.
Antenna and timing design
Design the antenna and the timing with a diamond diagram.
Power and data budget
Build the power and data budget and assess imaging performance.
Processing and calibration
Define the processing chain and the calibration plan.
Final project
Deliver the report and presentation of the SAR payload design for review by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Radar engineerPayload engineerSAR processing specialistRemote sensing analystCalibration engineerObservation systems engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with ESA SNAP, ISCE, GAMMA Software, MATLAB, Python with GDAL, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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