Intro to Remote Sensing
Lecture 1
What is remote sensing
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Remote Sensing: remote sensing is science of
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acquiring,
processing, and
interpreting
images and related data that are obtained from ground-based, air-or space-borne
instruments that record the interaction between matter (target) and electromagnetic
radiation.
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Remote Sensing: using electromagnetic spectrum to image the land, ocean, and
atmosphere.
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In this class, we will mostly focus on the
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principles and techniques for data collection and the interaction of electromagnetic energy
with the Earth's surface
some application examples
also you will get familiar with ENVI, an image processing software.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Source: http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/DIAL.html
average shrub
average grass
average soil
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Radiance (Wm nm sr )
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0.6
average shrub
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average grass
average soil
Reflectance
What we
measure in
remote
sensing?
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0
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http://www.asdi.com/
In-Situ scale measurements
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Solar radiation
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Many more:
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Temperature
Soil moisture
Mineral and rock types
Rainfall
Snow cover, snow depth or snow water equivalent
Vegetation type and biomass
Sea ice properties (concentration, thickness, extent, area)
Elevation and change
Aerosol, gas types and concentration
You might name a few more?
Remote sensing platforms
Ground-based
Airplane-based
Satellite-based
NASA
Research
Spacecraft
Busy Traffic
Data acquisition
Applications of National Priority
Carbon
Management
Public Health
Energy
Management
Aviation
Water
Management
Homeland
Security
Coastal
Management
Disaster
Management
Agricultural
Efficiency
Invasive Species
Ecological
Forecasting
Air Quality
History of Remote Sensing
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Aerial photography is the original form of remote sensing (using visible spectrum) started
in 1909
Aerial photographic reconnaissance was widely used after 1915 in WWI.
Photogrammetric Engineering, the official monthly publication of the American Society of
Photogrammetry, was first published in 1934.
Color infrared photography began 1931, then was widely used in agriculture and forestry.
Development of radar (1930-1940).
During WWII, non-visible spectrum (infrared and radar) were used as tools in remote
sensing.
After the first man-made satellite (Sputnik 1) was launched on 4 October 1957 by Soviet
Union, remote sensing moved to outer space, ignited the Space Race within the Cold War.
The United States' Explorer 6 transmitted the first space photograph of the Earth in August
1959.
The first systematic meteorological satellite observation came with the launch of the
United States' TIROS 1 in 1960.
Landsat 1 (originally called the Earth Resources Technology Satellite or ERTS) was the
first satellite to collect data on the Earth's natural resources. It was launched on 23 July
1972.
Hyperspectral remote sensing emerged (1980s), widely used in mineral, oil, etc.
exploration.
Since then, a large number and advanced types of remote sensing systems have been
developed.
Research Systems to Operational Systems
Imaging and Sounding
SeaWiFS
Aqua
NPP
NPOESS
Solar Irradiance, Ozone, and Aerosols
Observation
In operation
Under
Development
In Formulation
Tech
Development
Terra
ACRIMsat
SORCE
SAGE III
AURA
Glory
NPOESS
NPP
Atmospheric Composition
UARS
AURA
NPOESS
TBD
Ocean Surface Topography
Jason
NOAA/EUMETSAT
Land Cover/Land Use Change
Tech
Landsat 7
Data Assim
* Canceled
flight mission;
gleaning
technology
for GOES-R
OSTM
LDCM
Operational NPOESS
GIFTS*
GOES
Tropo Winds
TBD
Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation
NCEP
Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center NWS
NASA & NOAA jointly funding NRC studies on improving transition
From Terra, Aqua to NPP to JPSS
Terra (1999)
Aqua (2002)
NPP (2011, Oct)
Coriolis (2003)
WindSat
METOP (2006)
IASI/AMSU/MHS & AVHRR
AIRS, AMSU & MODIS
CrIS/ATMS
VIIRS
OMPS
JPSS/ (2016, 2019)
CrIS/ATMS, VIIRS, CMIS,
OMPS & ERBS
Use of Advanced Sounder Data for Improved
Weather Forecasting & Numerical Weather Prediction
NOAA Real-Time Data Delivery Timeline
Ground Station Scenario
NWS/NCEP
GSFC/DAO
ECMWF
C3S
IDPS
NOAA
Real-time
User
UKMO
FNMOC
Meteo-France
BMRC-Australia
Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation
Met Serv Canada
NWP
Forecasts
NPOESS, JPSS, and NPP
 NPP and NPOESS have a long, complicated history
 The tri-agency NPOESS partnership (DOD, NOAA, NASA)
has been dissolved
 “NPOESS” is no more
 The NOAA-NASA partnership continues under the Joint Polar Satellite
System (JPSS) – afternoon platform series
 DOD is continuing alone -- early morning platform series
 NASA’s NPP mission has not changed its name – it is still the
NPOESS Preparatory Project.
 The roles and responsibilities of the NPP Science Team have
not changed (at its core, the primary work remains EDR
evaluation and related algorithm improvements for climate
science!)
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NPP Goals
The NPP mission has two major goals:
 To provide a continuation of the EOS record of climate-
quality observations after EOS Terra, Aqua, and Aura (i.e., it
will extend key Earth system data records and/or climate data
records of equal or better quality and uncertainty in
comparison to those of the Terra, Aqua, and Aura sensors), and
 To provide risk reduction for JPSS instruments, algorithms,
ground data processing, archive, and distribution prior to the
launch of the first JPSS spacecraft (but note that there are now
plans to use NPP data operationally)
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NPOESS no more
The greatest canyon on Mars: Valles Marineris
Trend and Future of Remote Sensing (1)
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High spatial resolution
- IKONOS launched in 1999 by Space Imaging
(4 m multi-spectral and 1 m panchromatic)
- QuickBird launched in 2001 by DIGITALGLOBE
(2.44 m multi-spectral and 61 cm
panchromatic)
High spectral resolution
- AVIRIS, 10nm and 20 m, 224 bands
- Hyperion launched in 2000, 10nm and 30m, 220
bands
High radiometric resolution
- 8 bits to 12 bits
High temporal resolution
- GOES 15-30 minutes
- NEXRAD 6 or 10 minutes
Trend and Future of Remote Sensing (2)
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Globe coverage, high repeatability (or improved temporal resolution)
- AVHRR, 1100m, morning or afternoon
- MODIS, 250-1000m, morning or afternoon
- NPOESS (will be launched in 2013), 370-740m, 4 hours
Real-time or near real-time availability
- MODIS available online in the second day ?
- NEXRAD available online in 6 minutes
- NPOESS available online in 15 minutes
Cost free or affordable
- Most of the federal collected images are free available or lower
cost, while commercial high resolution images are affordable.
Integrated remote sensing and GIS
- Remote sensing applications with the support of GIS
- Remote sensing data as a major GIS data source
Major image processing software
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ENVI/IDL: http://www.rsinc.com/
ERDAS Imagine: http://www.gis.leicageosystems.com/Products/Imagine/
PCI Geomatics: http://www.pci.on.ca/
ER Mapper: http://www.ermapper.com/
INTEGRAPH: http://imgs.intergraph.com/gimage/
IDRIS:
Ecognition: http://www.definiensimaging.com/ecognition/pro/40.htm
See5 and decision tree