On Jan. 24, the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of technology to optimize the quality of water resource satellite imagery with the German Aerospace Agency. The agreement took place at the K-water Research Institute in the Yuseong district of the city of Daejeon.
The German Aerospace Agency, known as Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), is a federal scientific research institution in Germany that conducts research and technological development in the fields of aviation and space. It is a specialized institution in the field of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), possessing unparalleled expertise in SAR image correction and calibration within the SAR satellite domain.
The key components of the agreement include collaborative research on core technologies for quality management of SAR data from water resource satellites. This involves the joint research and development of quality analysis technologies such as SAR image processing and correction devices, as well as imaging technology. The collaboration also encompasses mutual cooperation in joint operation of facilities and equipment for enhancing SAR image quality. Other aspects of cooperation involve joint workshops, personnel and technology exchanges, and jointly exploring international collaborative projects.
SAR is an active sensor that sends microwaves to the Earth’s surface and captures images by synthesizing the reflected signal data. Unlike electro-optical sensors that rely on sunlight, SAR operates independently of weather conditions and day-night cycles, utilizing microwaves for its operation.
Through this agreement, the two institutions plan to commence international collaborative research on the core technology development for water resource satellite imaging processing and correction from March of this year. Additionally, they intend to continue their collaboration on enhancing image quality by sharing research infrastructure and satellite information held by both institutions in overseas regions, including South Korea and Germany.