|
|
1. What is SaltSAR?
SaltSAR is the collective term for a group of sophisticated
algorithms and procedures used to map salinity levels in the soils
surface.
2. How does it work?
Images of the earth are collected using a synthetic aperture
radar (SAR) mounted in an airplane.
The SAR instrument works by transmitting microwave energy towards
the earth’s surface and then collecting the waves of energy
as they bounce back.
When radar interacts with features on the earth’s surface
the properties of the radar energy is altered.
When collecting the returning microwaves the SAR is able to measure
the type and magnitude of any changes.
Salty soil changes radar energy in a very specific way.
SaltSAR is able to pinpoint where the SAR has interacted with salty
soil as well as the levels of salt in those locations.
3. How long does it take to collect the data and create
the maps?
In excess of 1 Million hectares per day can be imaged by
an airborne SAR.
The data can be delivered to the client in a matter of weeks.
4. Has it been tested in different environments?
SaltSAR has been used to map Australian environments as
diverse as the un-touched wetlands of Kakadu National Park in the
Northern Territory to the extensively altered agricultural regions
of Kerang in Victoria.
5. How are SaltSAR maps different to other salinity maps?
Other common techniques map salinity deep in the water
table or map the results or effects of salinity, such as vegetation
dieback.
SaltSAR directly maps the levels of soil salinity in the root zone.
6. Who will find SaltSAR maps useful?
Salinity maps are of immense value to land, water, resource,
infrastructure and agricultural government departments, catchment
management authorities and boards, salinity engineers, peak industry
groups (eg Rice growers), irrigation companies, affected landholders,
adjoining landholders and land and environmental management organisations
such as Landcare groups.
7. What are the advantages of SaltSAR over other mapping
technologies?
SaltSAR maps cover large areas AND have high resolution.
This means that:
- Maps
can be used for planning at a catchment or regional level
- Maps
can be use at sub-paddock level, for single farm management
-
Management can be co-ordinated across catchments and political
boundaries
- Expenses
can be shared across boundaries
SaltSAR identifies the concentrations, locations and extent of
salinity for:
- improved
targeting of funds for salinity treatments
- improved
monitoring of remediation strategies and
- more
informed planning processes
|
|
