Synthetic aperture lidar as a future tool for earth observation

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a critical tool for Earth observation as it provides day and night capabilities in numerous weather conditions. We propose in this paper to use the synthetic aperture lidar (SAL) which is based on the same basic principles as SAR but provides a higher resolution. The SAL system can be made more compact than SAR opening the door to deployment onboard small satellites, airborne platforms and unmanned air vehicles. Discover the results obtained with a SAL laboratory prototype along with the potential applications for Earth observation.