Detecting and measuring temporal phenomenon with high resolution satellite imagery

Abstract

A new operating mode for imaging satellites has been developed. The non-imaging mode is designed to provide high temporal resolution data time varying targets. The idea is to use linear pushbroom arrays with kilohertz sampling rates to not only detect, but also measure the frequency of temporally varying targets. For satellite operations this will involve satellite slewing at a rate which cancels the effects of satellite orbital motion. This concept was explored here with a laboratory simulation of an intended test target consisting of windmills at the Ponnequin Wind Farm in Colorado. Test images were acquired and processed using an inexpensive camera and MATLAB. Results indicate the approach is viable and should produce distinct and useful signatures in time and frequency domain analysis.