Introduction to Remote Sensing and Earth Observation

Syllabus

Objective and training details, setting the scene on RS data/information (2 hours lecture)

Introduction to EO remote sensing (1 hour lecture)

Fundamentals of RS (1 hour lecture)

Satellites, Sensors, and Orbits (2 hours lecture)

Physics of remote sensing (4 hours lecture)

Spatial-spectral-radiometric-temporal resolution (2 hours lecture)

RS applications (2 hours lecture)

Remote sensing image acquisition and processing levels (2 hours lecture)

Import RS data to QGIS or ILWIS and Image properties (2 hours exercises)

Colour composites (1 hour lecture and 1 hour exercise)

Visual interpretation (1 hour lecture and 2 hours exercises)

Study area selection and drawing Region of Interest (2 hours exercises)

RS data acquisition (2 hours exercises)

Processing EO Satellite imagery (8 hours lab sessions)

Image geometric correction (2 hours lecture and 3 hours exercises)

The homework will include: 20 hrs literature analysis, RS terminology, and individual study.

The main objectives are:

To provide the basic knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary in the field of Remote Sensing (RS) and Earth Observation (EO).
To teach principles of RS: Develop an understanding of the fundamentals, techniques, and applications of RS technology (e.g. satellite imagery, aerial photography, etc.).
To introduce RS components and services.
To discuss about Physics of RS.
To describe RS data acquisition: Provide valuable insight into the acquisition of remotely sensed data and sensor measurements.
To introduce EO satellites and orbits.
To discuss RS image visual interpretation.
To explain image geometric correction.
To perform RS image processing. Provide valuable insight into the processing of remotely sensed data.
To discuss RS applications in agriculture.

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:

Identify basic concepts and methods applied in remote sensing.
Understand how remote sensing contributes to agricultural and environmental monitoring, resource management and data acquisition.
Discover some of the thematic applications that benefit from remote sensing such as vegetation health assessment, and water monitoring.
Use the criteria for choosing appropriate RS data under different conditions.