SAR Tasking Priority Score Calculator

Quantify synthetic aperture radar task priority by combining urgency, portfolio weighting, footprint size, and feasibility constraints.

Portfolio weighting that reflects mission criticality or SLA tier.
Elapsed time since the target was last imaged.
Maximum acceptable gap between collections.
Surface area of the collection strip or spotlight task.
Multiplier for look angle or power constraints. Defaults to 1.0 when blank.

Operations heuristic. Validate against historical completion rates and update constants when sensor modes or swath widths change.

Examples

  • Priority weight 5.0, elapsed 36 h, required interval 24 h, area 40 sq km, geometry factor 0.9 ⇒ Score 3.75 (higher priority).
  • Priority weight 3.0, elapsed 12 h, required interval 24 h, area 120 sq km, geometry blank ⇒ Score 0.44 (lower priority).

FAQ

Why cap the time pressure multiplier at 2?

Capping prevents legacy tasks with very old revisits from dominating the queue indefinitely. After double the required interval, operations teams usually escalate through exception handling rather than pure scheduling priority.

How should we derive the priority weight?

Combine SLA tiering, customer value, regulatory obligations, and strategic coverage plans. Many operators use a 1–5 scale aligned with booking classes or mission-critical designations.

Does the area penalty disadvantage maritime strip tasks?

Large-area tasks do carry a lower score, but you can supplement the model with batching logic or adjust the reference area constant so that recurring maritime corridors remain competitive.

Additional Information

  • Result unit: dimensionless priority score scaled by weighting, urgency, and area penalty.
  • Area penalty assumes a 50 sq km reference swath; adjust by editing the expression if your constellation uses a different standard.
  • Clamp geometry factors to the 0.5–1.2 range to reflect pointing, power, or data rate feasibility.

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