Scientist wins award for synthetic aperture radar

17 Jun 2002

Sandia scientist Dr. Charles "Jack" Jakowatz has been selected to receive a 1996 Ernest O. Lawrence Award, one of the Department of Energy's top prizes, for achievements that advance the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to detect exceptionally small changes in landscape.

The technique is used to observe ground terrain from aircraft, through night and cloud cover, and can produce imagery with pixel size as small as one square foot. The breakthrough makes it possible for arms control and treaty verification personnel to patrol by air the borders of formerly warring states and announce definitively whether military equipment has been brought in or removed.

A second closely related technique has been used to produce very accurate terrain elevation maps. The technique could be used by a satellite-borne SAR to create a geologic map in approximately six months that would describe the varying height of the entire earth to a few meters. The same technology also has application to problems in geoscience, including the mapping of glacier motion and prediction of volcanic activity. The work also improves the accuracy of military strikes.

The award -- a gold medallion and $15,000 -- will be presented to Jakowatz in Washington, D.C. in April. Six other winners will also be honored.