Satellite Technology Advances With New Wide-Area Imaging Capability
ICEYE's Scan Wide Mode Captures 23,166 Square Miles in Single Image
A new SAR satellite imaging mode introduced by ICEYE now enables surveillance of areas the size of West Virginia in one satellite pass, boosting maritime security monitoring and intelligence gathering capabilities. The new satellite imaging mode captures areas up to 23,166 square miles (60,000 square kilometers) in a single pass, expanding surveillance capabilities for maritime security and intelligence operations.
"By adding Scan Wide to our imaging portfolio, we enable users to 'zoom out' to search wide areas, and then 'zoom in' for high-resolution collections of targets of interest, tipping and cueing all within the same, seamless user experience."
John Cartwright, ICEYE
The Finnish company's Scan Wide technology represents the largest scene size available in its imaging portfolio. The new capability supports multi-frame operations, allowing coverage of up to 46,332 square miles (120,000 square kilometers) in one acquisition. This wide-area coverage proves particularly valuable for maritime applications including tracking vessels that disable identification systems to hide illegal activities and monitoring oil spills across vast ocean areas.
"By adding Scan Wide to our imaging portfolio, we enable users to 'zoom out' to search wide areas, and then 'zoom in' for high-resolution collections of targets of interest, tipping and cueing all within the same, seamless user experience," said John Cartwright, ICEYE's senior vice president of product for data. "ICEYE is unique among operators of its class in this extraordinary flexibility."
The company's satellites now offer imaging capabilities ranging from ultra-high resolution 10-inch imagery covering 19 square miles (5 by 5 kilometers) to the new 88-foot resolution Scan Wide mode covering 77,220 square miles (200 by 300 kilometers). This range allows analysts to first identify suspicious activities using wide-area scans, then deploy high-resolution modes for detailed investigation.
ICEYE operates 54 synthetic aperture radar satellites, which the company describes as the world's largest SAR constellation. The satellites provide all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities for defense, maritime security and environmental monitoring applications.
The Scan Wide mode works across ICEYE's entire satellite fleet, offering customers flexibility to conduct large-area intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Applications include detecting illicit ship-to-ship transfers, identifying vessels operating without automatic identification systems, and monitoring environmental incidents like oil spills.