Compared to less than a couple of decades ago, the way to think of Earth Observation with satellites has dramatically changed. The wide diffusion of open-source satellite data has allowed broader access to the primary resources of Earth Observation which is exactly wide-coverage images with medium-high spatial resolution. An incredibly intense set of upstream activities – so much intense to justify the start of new research areas such as space debris removal and space situational awareness – together with the wider availability of data has finally brought to the development of (and the investment in) relevant downstream activities.
Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR) play today, more than in the past, a fundamental role in guaranteeing coverage, over any geographical area, despite of any light and weather condition. If the understanding and correct interpretation of SAR data are in someway improving in the research and business environment, the ability to extract meaningful information from it (beyond the application of well established and validated techniques) as modern era dictates – hic et nunc – is still limited.
With this talk we will engage in an adventurous trip to EO applications with SAR imagery, swiftly moving from disaster management to security and surveillance sectors, discussing where we are with the ”here and now” and where we can potentially be in a very close future.