5.0 Radar Basics

Learn about radar imaging

Radar is an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. Radar systems were originally developed in order to detect the presence and position of objects using transmitted and received radio waves. Due to the electromagnetic properties of radio waves radar systems are capable of collecting data in nearly all atmospheric conditions, by day and/or night. For this reason they have proven to be useful in a number of applications.

Radar systems were first implemented in the 1930s to detect ships on water and to measure their proximity. Imaging radar systems have been in use since the 1950s. They were originally developed by the military. Radar as a remote sensing tool became more commonly used as military systems were declassified and scientists developed new applications in mapping and resource monitoring.