ECE 4423/6423

INTRODUCTION TO REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGIES

CATALOG DATA: ECE 4423/6423. Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies. (3).

(Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing, or consent of instructor).

Three hours lecture. Electromagnetic interactions, passive sensors, multispectral and Hyperspectral optical sensors, active sensors, imaging radar, SAR, Lidar, digital image processing, natural resource applications. (Same as PSS 4483/6483 and ABE 4483/6483).

PREREQUISITES BY TOPIC:

1. Senior or graduate level standing in an engineering or science based curriculum.

TEXTBOOK(S) AND OTHER REQUIRED MATERIAL:

1. Thomas E. Graedel & Paul J. Crutzen, Atmosphere, Climate, and Change, Scientific American Library, 1995.

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES AND RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

1. To develop student understanding of the utilization of electromagnetic energy as a measuring system [1,2].
2. To develop student understanding of active and passive Earth remote sensing technologies [1,2].
3. To develop student understanding of the complex nature of global and societal problems and the use of sound engineering and science principles for solutions [1,2,3,4].

TOPICS COVERED:

1. Radiometry (4)
2. Electromagnetic Absorption and Scattering (4)
3. Radiative Transfer Theory (2)
4. Atmospheric Corrections (2)
5. Target – interactions and measurements (e.g., imaging issues - BRDF) (8)
6. Ground Truth instrumentation – theory and operational considerations (3)
7. Passive (optical, IR) sensors – theory and operational considerations (9)
8. Active (Lidar, radar) sensors – theory and operational considerations (6)
9. Global and Societal issues – e.g., Climate change, Water resources (5)
10. Exams (2)

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT:

1. Engineering Topics : 1.5 hours
2. Engineering Design : 0.5 hours
3. Math and Basic Science : 1 hours

ASSESSMENT:

1. Multidisciplinary team projects
2. Enabling technology research paper
3. Midterm exam
4. Final exam

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES AND RELATIONSHIP TO MEASURABLE OUTCOMES:

Objective 1:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the underlying science principles that control the interaction of electromagnetic energy with the atmosphere. (1, 2, 4)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the underlying science principles that control the interaction of electromagnetic energy with a variety of biophysical targets. (1, 2, 4)

Objective 2:

• Demonstrate an understanding of image formation and measurement in the solar reflective portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Demonstrate an understanding of image formation and measurement using active remote sensing technologies (e.g., imaging radar, SAR, LIDAR). (1, 2, 7)

Objective 3:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of global and societal issues that can be addressed through the appropriate use of Earth remote sensing technologies (e.g., climate change). (1, 8)

PREPARED BY:

Dr. Roger L. King, William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, September 15, 2004