Dr. Rafael Lemos Paes | Satellite Scanning Award | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Rafael Lemos Paes, General Staff of Brazilian Air Force, Brazil

Rafael Paes is a seasoned expert in orbital remote sensing with a focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, artificial intelligence, and decision support systems. Born in Brazil, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Sciences from the Brazilian Air Force Academy in 2001. He later obtained his Master’s (2009) and Ph.D. (2015) degrees in Orbital Remote Sensing from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Paes has over 20 years of experience, having worked as a SAR remote sensing researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IEAv) from 2007 to 2020, where he also led the C4ISR Division. His research primarily focuses on the automatic extraction of information from orbital remote sensing images, particularly SAR, utilizing techniques like automatic pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, and stochastic processes. He has made significant contributions in detecting, recognizing, and tracking non-natural targets such as vessels, oil spills, and debris, which are crucial for the Brazilian Air Force’s ISR activities, including search and rescue operations.

Professional Profile:

Suitability of Rafael Paes for the Best Researcher Award:

Rafael Paes is a seasoned researcher with a robust background in Orbital Remote Sensing, particularly in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. His expertise spans automatic information extraction from SAR images, AI-based pattern recognition, and decision support systems. With a career dedicated to advancing remote sensing technologies, Rafael has contributed significantly to the field, particularly in applications related to detecting, recognizing, and monitoring non-natural targets, such as ships and oil spills, crucial for environmental monitoring and defense.

Education:

1. Academia da Força Aérea (Pirassununga, SP, Brazil)
   • Degree: B.Sc. in Ciências Aeronáuticas (Aeronautical Sciences)
   • Duration: February 1998 – December 2001
2. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil)
   • Degree: M.Sc. in Observação da Terra (Earth Observation)
   • Duration: February 2007 – August 2009
3. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil)
   • Degree: Ph.D. in Observação da Terra (Earth Observation)
   • Duration: March 2011 – December 2015
4. Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
   • Qualification: MBA Executivo in Planejamento e Gestão Estratégica (Executive MBA in Planning and Strategic Management)
   • Duration: January 2020 – December 2020

Work Experience:

1. 1º/7º Grupo de Aviação (Salvador, BA, Brazil)
   • Position: Esquadrão Operacional de Patrulha (IVR) – Operational Patrol Squadron
   • Duration: January 2003 – January 2007
2. Instituto de Estudos Avançados (IEAv, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil)
   • Position: Head of C4ISR Division (Comando, Controle, Comunicações, Computadores, Inteligência, Vigilância e Reconhecimento) and SAR Remote Sensing Researcher
   • Duration: February 2007 – December 2020
3. Escola de Comando e Estado-Maior da Aeronáutica (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
   • Position: Oficial-aluno (Officer Student)
   • Duration: December 2020 – December 2021
4. Estado-Maior da Aeronáutica (EMAER, Brasília, Brazil)
   • Position: Assessor
   • Duration: December 2021 – Present

Publication top Notes: