Lecturer: Fabio Dell'Acqua  

Course name: Remote sensing systems
Course code: 062268
Degree course: Ingegneria Elettronica e delle Telecomunicazioni
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/03
University credits: CFU 5
Course website: http://tlclab.unipv.it/sito_tlc/home.do

Specific course objectives

Basic knowledge of remote sensing, of the essential structure of remote sensing instruments to perform remote sensing from terrestrial, airborne, spaceborne platform, and of data produced by the different remote sensing systems, and finally of the use of remotely sensed data. Capability to recognize data from the different sensors; basic capability to select the most advisable sensor for a given application and set of conditions.

Course programme

The Remote Sensing Systems course aims at providing to the student some basic knowledge about systems to performe (mainly spaceborne) remote sensing in an Earth Observation perspective. Specific emphasis is placed on Synthetic Aperture Radar. The produced data is also treated, as well as some techniques for their processing.

Physical principles of remote sensing
What is remote sensing and what it is based on. Earth Observation from satellite.

• What is Remote Sensing.
• The remote sensing vehichle: electromagnetic waves, their generation, the black body.
• Principles of Remote Sensing: interaction of electromagnetic waves with surfaces and the atmosphere
• Remote sensing systems: platforms and sensors, classification and relevant features.

Optical remote sensing systems
Systems for remote sensing at the optical frequency range.

• Optical remote sensing.
• Mono-spectral (panchromatic), multispectral, hyperspectral remote sensing.
• Photography and scanning.
• Examples of optical remote sensing systems.

Radar Remote Sensing Systems
Microwave-based remote sensing systems

• Microwave remote sensing.
• The main active, imaging microwave sensor: the EO radar.
• The pulse compression technique.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): operation principle.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): imaging.
• Radar Polarimetry
• Radar Interferometry
• Spaceborne radar sensors onboard ENVISAT, ERS, Seasat, RADARSAT.
• The Italian very high resolution radar constellation: COSMO/SkyMed.
• Basic concepts on weather radar.

Remotely sensed data
What the acquisition produces. Connected issues and processing techniques.

• Data format and look
• Distortions in optical data
• Distortions in radar data
• Basics of data processing

Other remote sensing systems
Some basic elements on other remote sensing systems.

Course entry requirements

Knowledge from courses on Electromagnetic Fields and Signal Theory.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 38
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

John C. Curlander, Robert N. McDonough. Synthetic Aperture Radar - Systems and Signal Processing. John Wiley & Sons, inc. ISBN 0-471-85770-X. Testo di riferimento per il radar ad apertura sintetica e per l'elaborazione del segnale SAR..

Chris Oliver, Shaoun Quegan. Understanding Synthetic Aperture Images. Artech House. ISBN 0-89006-850-X.

Giorgio Franceschetti, Riccardo Lanari. Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing. CRC Press, New York. ISBN 0-8493-7899-0.

Fabrizio Berizzi. Sistemi di Telerilevamento Radar. Apogeo - Milano. Libro commercializzato in formato elettronico.

Thomas M. Lillesand, Ralph W. Kiefer. Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 0-4712-5515-7.

Testing and exams

Final oral examination. Option for a single written test at the end of the course replacing oral examination.