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6. Data Distribution. The main subjects of research under this topic are the 
near-real-time data distribution systems using high speed lines (landlines) 
and the near-real-time data distribution systems using high speed channels 
with Telecom satellites. 
7. Standard Support for Remote Sensing Products to be Distributed to Users. 
Computer compatible tapes (1600 - 60250 bpi), high density digital tapes, 
floppy disks, cassettes, optical disks and video disks are considered and 
analyzed as potential media for dissemination of data. 
Working Group II/5 on "Equipment for Processing Synthetic Aperture Radar 
Data". 
Chairman: J.P. Guignard, European Space Agency- ESTEC, The Netherlands 
Co-Chairman: R.K. Raney, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing - RADARSAT Project 
Office, Canada 
The purpose of this Working Group is to asses the on-going developments and 
identify the required development of the instrumentation related to end-to-end 
SAR systems. The term end-to-end SAR systems implies the concern for all the 
aspects related to the sensor technology, that is, for data acquisition, data 
processing, data interpretation and data dissemination. However, the scope of 
the Working Group studies and research activities. is limited to the impact of 
these on the requirements for instrumentation with the emphasis on SAR 
processing. In general the activities of this Working Group are focused on 
those topics which are SAR unique and therefore not covered by any other 
working group. 
The subjects of interest are grouped in six main areas of activities. 
1l. On-board SAR Processing. in this area of activities the research work is 
related to analog preprocessing techniques (e.g. CCD and SAW techniques) to 
digital preprocessing techniques (e.g. on-board utilization of VLSI and 
possibly Ga As devices), and to signal conditioning. 
  
De. Ground SAR Preprocessing. The major areas of concern under this topic 
are: the digital processing techniques and instruments (i.e. ground hardware 
for generation of SAR data in image form) including the associated software 
aspects (i.e. software architecture and software for numerical analysis 
running on parallel machines), and the optical processing techniques and 
equipment. ; 
  
3. Algorithms of SAR Preprocessing (Impact on Instrumentation). To this area 
of activity belong the subjects related to matters of significant influence on 
the design of instrumentation. They are: algorithms and simulations, 
auxiliary data requirements and processing, image specification and image 
quality assessment. 
4, Acquisition, Validation and Calibration. Under this topic the main 
subjects of interest are: the airborne and spaceborne systems, the data 
validation and calibration systems, and the compatibility of SAR sensor 
products with non SAR products. 
5. Optimal Extraction of Information. The main subjects are: adaptive 
application oriented processing, SAR image simulation, properties of image 
Spectra, and pattern recognition methods.