Philippines turns to space in maritime, land surveillance

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the National Security Council (NSC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement in the implementation of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) for the Innovative Terrestrial Monitoring and Maritime Surveillance (SAR with AIS) Project.

A satellite image capturred by NovaSAR-1 from outer space.

Mission Center

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the project aims to improve terrestrial and maritime monitoring capabilities of the country through the NovaSAR-1 satellite. This allows roughly three minutes of imaging (or a scope of 81,600 sq. km.) using the scanning SAR (ScanSAR) mode per day.

The NovaSAR-1 is also equipped with an AIS allowing simultaneous ship detection partnered with the all-weather and day and night imaging capabilities of the satellite.

“The DOST and NSC will take another step forward and towards a new collaboration to ensure the interest and security of our nation. From this day onward, the council and the department have officially committed to endeavor on one of our projects geared towards terrestrial and maritime monitoring, the SAR with AIS Project,” De la Peña said.

National Security Adviser and Director General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., lauded the DOST for supporting the project in the last three years, saying “this development is good news for all Filipinos and the government because this will establish our presence in outer space, and through DOST and the Philippine Space Agency, we have accomplished this.”

“We took small steps, but we made our presence known. With this project, we have accelerated our interest in outer space, and we do it through the NovaSAR satellite. We can now capture image for maritime monitoring purposes, including other interests in national security,” Esperon said.

SAR data can be used to monitor and detect a variety of objects and is minimally affected by weather conditions making it an efficient option for monitoring. And the data provides for a more detailed information regarding ships being detected and allows for the identification of the ships and the locations it visited.

This information is very useful in guarding Philippine water territories against illegal vessels and in determining hidden motives of unauthorized ships. Also, AIS data can be used to plot trajectories of missing ships and assist in rescue operations.

“With the operationalization of DOST’s SAR with AIS, with the continued assistance of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) headed by Director General Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., and now enhanced with the engagement of the National Security Council, we cannot help but look forward to another big leap towards our collective goal of strengthening our research and development infrastructures that are vital for the country’s security and territorial integrity,” said Dr. Franz De Leon, Director of the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute.

De Leon said the project plays a big role in research and development with its complex capabilities and expertise on terrestrial monitoring and maritime surveillance for national security.

Marciano also expressed optimism in finding more meaningful applications of the project in national security as well as other areas—that with and through innovative solutions using evidence-based science and technology approach. (Rhoderick Benez contributed to this report.)