Wind
Resource Mapping and Surface Roughness
Together with the Wind Energy Department of the Risų National Laboratory of the Technical University of Denmark, we are building a fine scaled model for wind resources that can be used to optimise the location of wind farms in Australia. Many variables affect the location of wind farms, but the primary ones are the velocity, direction and variability of wind. This research uses estimates of meso-scale weather patterns, topography and surface roughness to estimate micro-scale wind velocity and direction. Surface roughness has traditionally been derived from land use, but in our research we are using polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (POLSAR) to measure terrain roughness and moisture content. The technique models roughness which is dependant on the wavelength of the radar, the angle of incidence of the radar beam to the topography, the dielectric constant of the medium reflecting the radar and the magnitude to the backscattered radar signal.
For further information, please contact David Bruce, John Boland or Alec Townsend