MetaSensing (Netherlands)

The upcoming launch of the L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite mission Radar Observing System for Europe L-band SAR (ROSE-L) will enable multi-frequency SAR observations when combined with existing C-band satellite missions (e.g., Sentinel-1). Due to the different penetration depths of the SAR signals, multi-frequency SAR offers great potential for field-scale agricultural monitoring and the estimation of soil and plant parameters. The SARSense campaign, conducted between June and August 2019 at the Selhausen agricultural test site near Jülich, Germany, has yielded a comprehensive dataset that includes both air- and space-borne C- and L-band SAR data, extensive in-situ field measurements of soil and plant parameters as well as unmanned aerial systems (UAS)-based multispectral and thermal infrared measurements and cosmic neutron sensing observations. The study provides both, an insight into the strengths and limitations of the acquired dataset as well as an analysis of the different behaviour of C- and L-band backscattering on changing soil moisture and plant parameters for taproot crops and cereals.

With the upcoming L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite mission Radar Observing System for Europe L-band SAR (ROSE-L) and its integration into existing C-band satellite missions such as Sentinel-1, multi-frequency SAR observations with high temporal and spatial resolution will become available. The SARSense campaign was conducted between June and August 2019 to investigate the potential for estimating soil and plant parameters at the agricultural test site in Selhausen (Germany). It included C- and L-band air- and space-borne observations accompanied by extensive in situ soil and plant sampling as well as unmanned aerial system (UAS) based multispectral and thermal infrared measurements. In this regard, we introduce a new publicly available SAR data set and present the first analysis of C- and L-band co- and cross-polarized backscattering signals regarding their sensitivity to soil and plant parameters. Results indicate that a multi-frequency approach is relevant to disentangle soil and plant contributions to the SAR signal and to identify specific scattering mechanisms associated with the characteristics of different crop type, especially for root crops and cereals.

This paper presents the interferometric results obtained from the data acquired during two MetaSensing campaigns. The first results are related to the Bistatic SAR campaign at L-band in Belgium. The data were acquired with the objective to monitor agriculture and crop growth as part of the ESA BelSAR project. The second results are related to single-pass monostatic InSAR acquisitions at C-band in Norway. The objective is to derive the interferometric height for further use in the carbon stock estimation context.

BelSAR is an ESA funded project for acquiring and analyzing airborne bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar data at L band, in support of the SAOCOM passive radar satellite under study at the agency. MetaSensing has built two L band SAR systems able to work in bistatic mode. A few test flights have been performed in The Netherlands and the paper reports the first results of the airborne bistatic campaign.

This paper focuses the attention on the deployment of the SnowSAR sensor by MetaSensing within the NASA's Snow Field Experiment (SNOWEX) campaign, discussing the preliminary results following the mission in Colorado during February 2017. Originally developed as instrument for supporting the Phase A studies for the proposed CoReH2O (Cold Regions Hydrology High-resolution Observatory) Earth Explorer candidate mission by the European Space Agency, the SnowSAR has been widely operated in the recent years for simultaneously acquiring airborne polarimetric SAR data at X- and Ku-bands. The processed and radiometrically calibrated SAR images have been used as inputs for developing/validating SWE retrieval algorithms, in synergy with the outcome of other concurrent measurements. Significant challenges have been shown in this practice, and the need for comprehensive measurements on relevant physical properties of snow and ice is still evident, as the SNOWEX campaign testifies.

Monitoring ground deformation and structural movements is an important task in order to prevent hazardous and harmful situations for the population. MetaSensing's FastGBSAR (Fast Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a novel sensor system, which allows the monitoring of deformation and vibration of natural and man-made structures. This paper describes two examples of application of the FastGBSAR to different sites in China providing examples of its usage for monitoring a dam, and an instable slope.

MetaSensing B.V.¹ is a Dutch company producing and operating Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors at high resolution and different frequency bands, including P-, L-, C-, X- and Ku. By operating its most recent SAR sensors in the framework of different projects MetaSensing showed how diverse SAR imagery techniques can be applied to different areas of remote sensing, offering an effective tool for monitoring and mapping purposes. The present paper gives an overview about the last achievements of MetaSensing during a recent airborne measurement mission within the AlpTomoExpcampaign, also showing some preliminary results. A fully-polarimetric L-band radar system has been successfully operated in March 2014 within the framework of the future SAOCOM+ mission currently under investigation by the European Space Agency (ESA). At these low frequencies penetration capabilities for several meters is possible on dry snow. More than 40 fully polarimetric images have been focused by MetaSensing of a glacier of the Otzal Alps, in Austria, within the framework of the AlpTomoExp campaign. Thanks to the good interferometric coherence of the acquired images, further tomographic processing has been possible for 3D images generation showing the vertical profile of the monitored scenario.

\n Os tumores carcinoides broncopulmonares típicos são considerados tumores de baixo grau de malignidade, o que faz com que muitas vezes seja negligenciada sua capacidade de gerar metástases e levar a óbito. A atual impossibilidade de se fazer predições fidedignas do potencial metastático para individualizar a terapêutica e o manejo clínico do paciente portador de tumor carcinoide típico muitas vezes impõe situações de dúvida nas decisões da prática clínica diária. O conhecimento das características moleculares e genéticas desses tumores é a esperança de melhor compreensão de sua história natural, da identificação de seus fatores prognósticos e da avaliação de novas propostas terapêuticas. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar três imunomarcadores: o D2-40, o CD-34 e o Ki-67 e avaliar se eles são capazes de predizer metástase. Como informação adicional também foram avaliadas as variáveis clínicas e suas associações com metástases. Material e métodos: Foram analisados prontuários de 97 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia para tratamento de tumor carcinoide típico broncopulmonar e que apresentavam período de acompanhamento pós operatório de cinco anos completos. Foi estabelecido um banco de dados epidemiológicos, anátomopatológicos, cirúrgicos e clínicos relacionados à doença. Os blocos de parafina contendo os tumores primários, metastáticos e os linfonodos ressecados foram recuperados e reavaliados por dois patologistas para confirmação do diagnóstico histológico. Após confirmação diagnóstica foram realizadas as reações imunohistoquímicas para o D2-40, o CD34 e Ki-67. As variáveis demografia, gênero, idade, localização do tumor, tamanho do tumor, margem comprometida, total de linfonodos dissecados e a quantificação dos marcadores Ki-67, CD34 e podoplanina (área linfática e densidade) foram comparadas a cinco desfechos: metástase linfática; metástase em linfonodos hilares, peribrônquicos e pulmonares ipsilaterais (N1); metástase em linfonodos mediastinais ipsilaterais (N2); metástase hematogênica; metástase linfática ou hematogênica. Para análise estatística adotou-se o valor de significância <= 5% (p <= 0,05). Resultados: Há imunoexpressão do D2-40, do CD-34 e do KI67 nos tumores carcinóides broncopulmonares típicos, sendo possível sua quantificação. Nessa casuística não foi detectada a relação dos mesmos com metástases. Dentre as variáveis clínicas estudadas, a margem cirúrgica comprometida apresentou associação com metástase hematogênica (Mann-Witney, p=0,03) e o gênero masculino apresentou associação marginal com metástase linfática (p=0,051)\n