RADAR is an abbreviation that stands for RAdio Detection and Ranging system. It is generally an electromagnetic system that detects the distance and location of an object. It has a Radar transmitter that relies on the principle of reflection when capturing data. Basically, the radio waves are transmitted through space and onto objects. The reflections or echoes from the object are then monitored.
Pros:
1. Radar has the ability to penetrate clouds, fogs, mist, and even snow. The radar technology signals are strong enough to pass through the snow, fog, and clouds. Therefore, even in adverse weather conditions, it’s still able to collect data.
2. Gives the exact position of an object. The electromagnetic system calculates the distance of an object and hence gives its exact position on the earth’s surface or space.
3. Radar signals can pass through insulators. There are materials such as rubber or plastic which are considered insulators. These materials cannot interfere with the data collection process of the radar signals. They penetrate through them and capture the required data.
4. Determines velocity. With the advanced technology used in radar systems, they can calculate the velocity of a moving object. For this reason, you not only know the exact location of the object but also its velocity.
5. Distinguishes between stationary and moving targets. You can use the data from the radar systems to differentiate whether a particular object was in motion or if it was stationary.
6. Radar signals have the ability to travel on their own. The radar technology uses radio signals which can travel either in air or space. They don’t need any medium of transportation.
7. It is wireless technology. Since the radio signals don’t need a medium of transportation, they are typically wireless. This automatically eliminates the need for wire connectivity.
8. It’s less costly compared to other systems. The radar system is cheaper than other forms of data collection most especially when used for large-scale projects.
9. Stores large amounts of data. It has a large operating frequency which enables it to store large amounts of data. In addition, the stored information can be used for many purposes.
10. Covers a wide geographical area. The radio signals from the radar systems can cover a significantly wide geographical area all at once. That’s why it’s mostly used for large-scale data collection projects.
Cons:
1. Radar takes longer to reach an object. This is because the radio signals don’t use a medium to travel. They move freely through the air and space. For this reason, it takes time before they can reach the object and bounce back.
2. It has a shorter range that goes up to about 200 feet. The radar signals only operate within a limited range.
3. False reading in the case where the object is handheld. The target should not be held in the hand. Otherwise, the data collected may not really be accurate and reliable.
4. Some objects and mediums in the air can interfere with data collection. There will always be some interference as the radio signals travel through the air or space. This can negatively impact the data collection process.
5. Unable to distinguish multiple targets. If there is more than one target, the radio signals can fail to distinguish them from each other.
6. The radar system cannot resolve targets that are inside the deep sea. The radar signals don’t have the ability to penetrate through to the sea bed and capture data of objects located there.
7. Lacks the ability to differentiate the colors of the targets. The system only collects information on a particular object but does not capture anything regarding its color. Therefore, it may not be so useful if you are concerned about the colors of the objects or targets.
8. Easily obstructed by conducting materials. Radio signals are mostly unable to maneuver conducting materials. In the case where the object is behind a conductor, it will be impossible for the radar system to collect any data on the target.
9. It does not resolve the type of objects. The systems don’t have the technology to give data on the type of object they are resolving. Their signals can’t generally differentiate the object types. Therefore, we can’t deduce that radar systems can help collect many types of data.
10. Often interrupted with other signals. There are many other radio signals from other frequencies traveling through the air and space. For this reason, there is a huge possibility the radio signals from the radar system will be combined with these other signals. If not directed the right way, this can alter the data being transmitted.
