Purpose of the class on Remote-sensing of the Environment is to provide to students the necessary basic culture and the operative instruments to select, process, and interpret the most appropriate remote-sensing images to specific applications on vegetation, geo-resources, geo-environment. In this way, the class is includes practicing to learn both the basic principles of remote-sensing and the required knowledge for the optimum use of the spectral-radiometric and geometric characteristics of the images. In the environmental studies, the acquired competences allows a first approach to the regional study of the distribution and stress of the vegetation on our planet, together with the identification of potential areas of geo-resource interest. Though the comparison among images collected in different dates, the student will be able to evaluate the impact due to natural and anthropic-related events.
teacher profile teaching materials
Sabins F. F., 2007. Remote Sensing: Principles and Interpretation. Waveland Press, Inc.
Programme
Origin and brief history of remote sensing. Introduction to optical remote sensing. The role of remote sensing in geo-environment and geo-tectonic monitoring. E.m. spectrum and its interaction with surface materials (water/ice, vegetation, soils, rocks). Characteristics of optical sensors. Spatial, spectral, radiometric and temporal resolution. Elements of Spectral radiometry: reflectance, transmittance, emittance. Interaction with the atmosphere. Spectral signatures. Characteristics of panchromatic, multispectral, and hyperspectral imaging. Techniques of processing and interpretation of images at the regional and local scales. Supervised and unsupervised classifications. Active remote sensing in microwaves.: radar systems. Technique of use of radar images. Thermal imaging. Practical training on data acquired with different satellite and airplane sensor systems.Core Documentation
S A Drury 2001. Image interpretation in Geology. Blackwell ScienceSabins F. F., 2007. Remote Sensing: Principles and Interpretation. Waveland Press, Inc.