Description
The module will provide an introduction to the basic concepts and principles of remote sensing. It will include 3 components: i) radiometric principles underlying remote sensing: electromagnetic radiation; basic laws of electromagnetic radiation; absorption, reflection and emission; atmospheric effects; radiation interactions with the surface, radiative transfer; ii) assumptions and trade-offs for particular applications: orbital mechanics and choices; spatial, spectral, temporal, angular and radiometric resolution; data pre-processing; scanners; iii) time- resolved remote sensing including: RADAR principles; the RADAR equation; RADAR resolution; phase information and SAR interferometry; LIDAR remote sensing, the LIDAR equation and applications.
The course aims to:
Provide knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts, principles and applications of remote sensing, particularly the electromagnetic spectrum – what it is, how it is measured, and what it tells us;
Provide examples of applications of principles to a variety of topics in remote sensing, particularly related to climate and environment
Develop a detailed understanding of the fundamental trade-offs in the design and applications of remote sensing tools: spatial, spectral, orbital etc.
Introduce new technologies, missions and opportunities, including ground-based sensing, lidar at multiple scales, radar, UAVs, new science and commercial missions, open data and the tools that are emerging to exploit these opportunities;
Introduce the principles of the radiative transfer problem that underpins most remote sensing measurements and how it is modelled and solved; applications of radiative transfer modelling to terrestrial vegetation;
Introduce students to wider remote sensing organisations, policy and careers through invited seminars from professionals in the field, including former RSEM students.
Sessions .
Introduction to remote sensing
Radiation principles, EM spectrum, blackbody
EM spectrum terms, definitions and concepts
Radiative transfer principles and assumptions
Spatial, spectral resolution and sampling
Pre-processing chain, ground segment, radiometric resolution, scanners; poster discussion
Active remote sensing: LIDAR – principles and applications
Active remote sensing: RADAR –principles and applications
New missions and technologies including LIDAR, UAVs, Copernicus etc.
Application discussions around assessed posters
