Lecturer: Paolo Ettore Gamba  

Course name: Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring
Course code: 502564
Degree course: Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e il Territorio
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/03
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

Knowledge of basic concepts of remote sensing, the essential structure of the sensor either terrestrial, airborne, or spaceborne, the data produced by different remote sensing systems, the uses of remote sensing data. Basic knowledge of the types of images obtained through remote sensing, and information useful for the study of environment and land that can be extracted from each of them. Ability to make assessments about the usefulness of various remote sensing images to solve a problem of analysis of the territory. Elementary skills of interpretation of remotely sensed images.

Course programme

Physical principles of remote sensing
Propagation, reflection and refraction of electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere. Interaction between electromagnetic fields and the Earth surface: absorption, emission, refraction and reflection.Spectral characteristics of various materials.

Remotely sensed "images"
Spectral / spatial characteristics. Image rectification. Enhancement. Contrast.

Multispectral remote sensing
Spaceborne and airborne sensors and systems. Opto-mechanical scanning devices. Electronic scanning devices. Along-track and across-track scanners. Geometric and radiometric corrections.

Classification
Image classification. Unsupervised and supervised classification. Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines. Classification accuracy. Multitemporal classification and change detection.

Spaceborne and airborne Radar Systems
Radar, SAR and related systems and applications.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of physics.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 32
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 10
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 20

Suggested reading materials

Thomas M. Lillesand, Ralph W. Kiefer. Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation. John Wiley & Sons, 1999.

Testing and exams

Students, in groups of two people, will carry out a small project during the semester,assigned by the teacher, based on analysis of some remote sensing data using existing or newly designed software. The final exam will be the presentation and discussion of the report and results of the project.