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Experts at Cranfield University are leading a two-year project which combines Synthetic Aperture Radar with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). 

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) uses radio waves to make detailed images of the Earth’s surface. It bounces waves off objects, measures their return time, and combines the data to create a high-resolution map. The project, led by Dr Dan Evans, will assess the accuracy and potential applications of the innovative technology in soil moisture monitoring.

By obtaining detailed measurements of soil moisture at the field scale, the project seeks to improve flood and drought risk management, aiding farmers in making informed irrigation decisions and planning for extreme weather events. The technology could also find applications in testing the stability of railway embankments.

The project also aims to identify the effectiveness of radar-based soil moisture measurements across different land use contexts, including grasslands, arable farmlands, and woodlands.