PRESS RELEASE | BOUNDLESS HORIZONS: SARwAIS Project Culmination Activity

19 May 2024 8:11 AM

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) celebrated the culmination of the Synthetic Aperture Radar and Automatic Identification System for Innovative Terrestrial Monitoring and Maritime Surveillance (SARwAIS) Project.

SARwAIS Project's Research and Development Activities presented by its Project Leader Alvin E. Retamar

The SARwAIS Project Culmination Activity marked the successful completion of six years of dedicated efforts aimed at enhancing the country's capabilities in terrestrial monitoring and maritime surveillance. The primary objectives of the event were to showcase the significant milestones and accomplishments attained during the implementation of the SARwAIS Project and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of key stakeholders and partners in the project's success.

In his recorded speech, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., stated that the Department of Science and Technology has invested billions in space programs, firmly believing in the immense potential of science and technology. “We acknowledged and continue to acknowledge its capacity not only to significantly impact the future of our nation but also to fundamentally reshape how we monitor and manage our resources, leveraging the vast opportunities presented by space data,” he added.

The SARwIAS Project team has demonstrated cutting-edge applications and advancements in terrestrial monitoring and maritime surveillance enabled by SARwAIS technology. The event provided a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration among stakeholders in the fields of remote sensing, surveillance, and maritime domain awareness.

DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia also attended the event where she shared that through the Department’s works and efforts in International Cooperation, we have successfully fostered a strong bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the Philippines. “Through strategic partnerships, such as those established for the SARwAIS Project, we have witnessed fruitful collaboration between nations, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science and technology,” she said.

The event is capped by the unveiling of “Boundless Horizons”, a book showcasing the space odyssey of the Philippines. This book offers an insightful narrative of the Philippines' voyage into space science; showcasing how the SARwAIS Project, as well as other DOST-funded space projects, harnessed the vastness of space technology that contributed to the betterment of our nation.

L-F: SARwAIS Project Lead Alvin E. Retamar; National Security Council’s Director of Presidential Situation Room, Director Manuel Jose Maria Tuason; PhilSA’s Director of Space Information Infrastructure Bureau, Dr. Ariel Blanco; DOST Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization, Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo, Jr.; DOST-ASTI Director, Dr. Franz A. De Leon; Philippine Space Agency’s Deputy Director General Sir Denis Villorente; DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah J. Buendia; Assistant Secretary for Development Cooperation, Rodolfo J. Calzado, Jr.; DOST Assistant Secretary for Administrative and Legal Affairs, Dr. Diana L. Ignacio

The event was attended by officials and representatives from various government agencies, academic institutions, the private sector, and partner organizations involved in the SARwAIS Project. The co-implementing agencies, the Philippine Space Agency and the National Security Council also participated in this momentous activity, with both agencies showcasing their partnership efforts with the Department of Science and Technology.

About the SARwAIS Project

Since its inception in 2018, the SARwAIS Project utilized radar imagery and automatic identification system (AIS) data from the NovaSAR-1 satellite to bolster the Philippines' disaster response and natural resource monitoring capabilities. The project distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and AIS data to relevant government agencies and academic institutions, supporting a wide range of research and operational applications, including terrestrial monitoring, disaster management, land cover classification, and environmental and agricultural monitoring.

We celebrated the accomplishments of the SARwAIS Project and explored the boundless horizons of science and technology that lie ahead. This event was a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in driving progress and improving the lives of Filipinos.

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DOST-ASTI's Space Project Management Team:  spacepm@asti.dost.gov.ph.


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