Physical Principles of Remote Sensing

On successful completion delegates should be able to:

• List the primary physical quantities that are directly related to measured radiance
• Define the basic radiation quantities
• Explain the nature of surface and atmospheric interactions with electromagnetic radiation
• List the major types of detectors and describe how satellite images are formed
• Describe the complete remote sensing process from data reception to information extraction
• Apply calibration and atmospheric correction methods to image data
• Explain the physical relations underlying the retrieval of satellite measured reflectance, temperature and backscattering coefficients.

• Introduction to the physical principles remote sensing
• Electromagnetic radiation: radiometric units and terms, radiation laws, radiation sources optical, thermal and microwave
• Surface interactions
• Plant, soil and water spectral properties
• Atmospheric interactions and correction
• Image formation: passive systems (detectors, opto-mechanical line scanners, waveband separation, linear and area arrays) and active systems (Lidar, RAR and SAR concepts)
• Spatial resolution and geometry
• Orbits and platforms
• Review of satellite and airborne systems
• Data reception: data transfer rates, telemetry, ground segment
• Data distribution: data suppliers, product levels, internet
• Calibration: DN to radiance, irradiance standards, calibration methods
• Interpretation of spectral response patterns
• Derivation of soil and vegetation indices: ratios, normalised differences, PVI, SBI, tunnelled cap concept. Applications of vegetation indices.