Software Automates Processing of SAR Image Data

The Automated SAR Image Processor (ASIP) computer program increases the efficiency of production of scientifically useful imagery from raw synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) image data. In the absence of ASIP, the processing of SAR data is a labor-intensive task, often involving supporting personnel, that requires expertise in the use of a variety of image-data-processing programs, as well as expertise in the scientific specialty of the end user. ASIP captures the diverse components of expertise to assist the scientific end user in obtaining the scientific end product without supporting personnel. ASIP applies artificial-intelligence planning techniques to reason about the interactions and interfaces among the many specialized programs needed to process SAR data. The planning component of ASIP then manages the flow of information and control in order to produce the desired scientific data product efficiently. In one application, for example, ASIP made it possible to produce special maps pertaining to the study of surface winds with only 1/10 the number of manual inputs and 30 percent less central-processing-unit time than would otherwise be necessary.