SAR & InSAR Remote Sensing
Duration:
12 weeks
Location:
Online
Certificate:
5 ECTS
Cost:
€1,000
Programme Overview
Earth Observation through Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing involves using radar satellites to characterise the Earth system from space. In detail, SAR remote sensing includes (i) analysis of SAR backscatter intensity and (ii) Interferometry of Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). These two methodologies cover a very wide range of applications from characterising vegetation and land cover to estimating of ground surface displacement on a millimetre scale. In this module, you will be guided by the objectives of quantifying by the objective of quantifying geohazards (earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruption, wildfire, flooding, etc), monitoring changes on the ground (e.g., land-use changes, maritime monitoring, geotechnical engineering, etc). You will understand the creation of SAR imagery and its important parameters, and you will be able to
define our own SAR/InSAR workflow and process it, according to your objectives. The purpose of this module is to train you in how to obtain, process and analyse SAR and InSAR images by using the state-of-the-art software and algorithms. Indeed, this module will give you the keys to interpreting and analysing your data, as it will focus on examples where SAR and InSAR remote sensing has played a key role. The emphasis in this module is on your development of intellectual and technical skills that are highly transferable to any professional environment involving remote sensing analysis.
This Space Industry Skillnet programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. eufunds.ie
Course start date, September 2025
Contact us to register
Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, you will have learned:
(1) Fundamentals of satellite-based radar systems and their
use in earth sciences;
(2) Where to find, and how to access, sources of SAR images
in offline and online repositories;
(3) Technical and digital skills in workflows required to
process SAR and InSAR data;
(4) Advanced SAR/InSAR applications such as time-series;
(5) How to read and interpret SAR and InSAR products to
quantify geohazards and soil characteristics, according to
noise ;
(6) How to integrate SAR/InSAR images with other geospatial
and geo-scientific data sets (e.g., in-situ measurements,
other satellite data, etc);
(7) How to synthesise, illustrate and present various lines of
remote sensing data by using graphic design and desktop
publishing software.
Who is the course for?
This course is suitable for geospatial data scientists, geographical information systems (GIS) specialists, engineers, consultants, public servants, and business development managers who are interested in exploring how SAR and InSAR satellite technologies such as SAR/InSAR could be utilised to offer new insights relevant to their domain. This course is also suitable for recent graduates in areas such as physics, space science, earth science, geography, environmental science, engineering, etc., who wish to enhance their knowledge of SAR remote sensing.
Modules
SAR fundamentals: working principles, radar equation, resolutions, waveforms, electromagnetic radiation.
● SAR processing: imaging algorithms, filtering, correlation.
● SAR applications and time series: land-use mapping, offset tracking, change detection, polarisation.
● InSAR fundamentals: working principle, phase components, corrections, unwrapping, ground surface displacements, topography computation, InSAR coherence.
● InSAR processing: interferogram computations.
● InSAR time series analysis: Persistent Scatterers, Small- Baselines Subset.
● InSAR applications: vertical and horizontal displacements, combination with other remote sensing methods
● SAR/InSAR in practice: software/tools and algorithms, available imagery (open-source and proprietary) and precomputed data (STAC, APIs), definition of workflows, via several examples (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruption, wildfire, flooding, land-use changes, maritime monitoring, geotechnical engineering, etc).
Course Leader
Space Industry Skillnet Funding
Space Industry Skillnet, an organisation dedicated to fostering skills and expertise in the field of Space technology, is partnering with UCD micro-credentials to develop and support the course fee for eligible learners* on relevant, space-focused, micro-credentials.
How to access the funding:
Apply for one of the applicable micro-credentials through the UCD website.
Clearly indicate on your application that you are applying with the intention of receiving a subsidised place on the course through Space Industry Skillnet’s partnership and that you believe you are eligible for this funding.
If you are successful, you will receive an offer from UCD.
Once you have accepted your offer, and provided you meet the eligibility criteria*, you will make payment of the fees for the micro-credential fee directly to Space Industry Skillnet.
Once payment has been made, you can register and join your micro-credential.
*The eligibility criteria, as set out by the Space Industry Skillnet, are as follows:
Companies must be private enterprises based in the Republic of Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland funding is not available to public sector bodies or publicly funded organisations, such as community-based not-for-profit companies or charities.
Commercial semi-state companies are eligible, providing that income contributed to a Network is not sourced from the public purse.
Sole traders are eligible as Companies.
Eligibility for Trainees:
Key requirements regarding trainee eligibility:
Trainees must be based in the Republic of Ireland.
Trainees must be employed within private enterprise.
Space Industry Skillnet is required to collect data on the profile of trainees supported and record this data for Skillnet Ireland.