BIOSAR30TM

BIOSAR30TM is a low frequency airborne synthetic aperture radar system that rapidly and accurately measures terrestrial biomass in heavily wooded areas. This patented and trademarked system operates in the VHF spectrum and senses only the trunks of large trees since the small limbs and leaves are transparent at the VHF frequencies used.

WHY BIOSAR30TM?
There are several existing airborne and satellite borne radar systems at 1 to 10 GHz for the remote measurement of terrestrial biomass. These systems work effectively in areas of low biomass concentration (< 100 tons per hectare). However, in heavily forested areas (> 100 tons per hectare), where 95% of the worlds biomass resides, the existing systems are incapable of measuring the biomass due to the reflection of the radar energy from the leaves and small branches of the canopies. The radar signal cannot penetrate the closed canopies sufficiently to sense and measure the large tree trunks where the bulk of the biomass resides. Lower frequency radar systems are needed to penetrate the canopies in heavily wooded areas. BioSAR30TM meets these requirements.

SURVEYS 30,000 ACRES IN 10 DAYS
This system was designed and built under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the express purpose of remotely measuring woody biomass in dense tropical forests. It is currently funded by DOE for the remote measurement of carbon for carbon cycle science. The airborne system uses a down-looking radar, which measures biomass in tons per hectare in 300-meter wide strips as the aircraft flies over. The system is low power, low weight, and low cost, and can provide for all weather day/night services. It can survey 100% of 30,000 acres in a 10 day mission. BioSAR30T demonstrated an accuracy of +/- 10% during a recent operational mission in the Panama rain forest over measured stands of trees.

The instrument has been successfully integrated and operationally flown in three types of aircraft, a light twin Piper Aztec, the NASA C-130, and a Twin Otter. Since the system was optimized to measure the biomass of large trees, it can meet other operational needs. It can:

• Provide for accurate estimates of board-feet per acre for commercial lumber
• Provide day/night, all weather, forest fire damage assessment through smoke
• Provide carbon monitoring and verification for the carbon credit market

ZAI has spun off a new company, Terresense, in order to provide commercial services for the airborne remote sensing surveys of terrestrial biomass and carbon with the BioSAR30T technology.