Course Syllabus

SIO 135/SIO 236 Satellite Remote Sensing

We will explore the fundamental concepts, methodologies, and applications of satellite-based Earth observation systems. This course will equip students with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively use satellite data for environmental monitoring, resource management, and scientific research. Overall, we will explore the full electromagnetic spectrum to understand the basics of many satellite remote sensing techniques, and discover their immense potential in understanding our dynamic planet.

WEEK 1

Introduction

Reading

Assignment

Instructor

Monday

1st April

Introduction to course:

labs, term papers

Overview of remote sensing

Rees 1.1-1.4 
Appendix

HW1

Sandwell/Fricker

Weds

3rd April

Overview continued

Lab 0 discussion

Sandwell/Fricker Roberts

Friday

5th April

Platforms and orbits

Use of color in remote sensing

Rees 10.1-10.4
Notes on orbits

 

Sandwell

LAB

Download & install MATLAB or Python

 

LAB 0

 

WEEK 2

EM radiation & GPS

Monday

8th April

Electromagnetic (AM) radiation, polarization

Rees 2.1-2.2 
EM Summary

HW2

Fricker

Weds

10th April

Lecture continued
Lab 1 discussion

Fricker

Roberts

Friday

12th April

GPS and the ionosphere

Rees 2.3

Fricker

LAB

MATLAB basics, plotting

 

LAB 1

 

WEEK 3

Fourier Transforms & Thermal Radiation

Monday

15th April

Spectra and Fourier transforms

Diffraction

Rees. 2.7
notes on Fourier

HW3

Yao Yu

Weds

17th April

Lab 2 discussion

Roberts

Friday

19th April 

Thermal radiation

Rees. 2.5-2.6 
notes on radiation

 

Fricker

LAB

1-D and 2-D Fourier transforms

 

LAB 2

 

WEEK 4

Propagation, dispersion and scattering; image processing

  

Monday

22 April 

Propagation, dispersion, and atmospheric scattering

Rees 3.1, 3.3

HW4

Fricker

Weds

24 April

Surface scattering

Lab 3 discussion

Rees 3.5

Fricker

Friday

26 April 

Image Processing - 1

Rees 11.1-11.2

Yao Yu

LAB

Data Types

 

LAB 3

 

WEEK 5

Image Processing

Monday

29 April

Image Processing - 2

Rees 11.3-11.4

Yao Yu

Weds

01 May

Lab 5 discussion

Rees 5.1-5.3 

 HW5

Roberts

Fricker

Friday

03 May

Stereo Notes/Examples

Optical imagery, CORONA, MODIS

Satellite Design

Rees 5.4-5.5

Fricker

LAB

Image Processing

 

LAB 4

 

WEEK 6

  Midterm review and exam

Monday

06 May

Passive microwave systems & applications 

 

Weds 08 May

Review and go over HW 1-5

Practice Midterm

Fricker/Roberts

Friday 10 May 

Midterm exam

 

WEEK 7

Imagery and radar altimetry

 

 

Monday

13 May 

Image classification

Rees 7.1-7.4


  HW6

Weds

15 May

Image classification contd
Machine learning

Lab 6 discussion

Roberts

 

Friday

17 May

Satellite radar altimetry

Rees  8.1 - 8.3

Fricker

LAB

Google Earth Engine

 

LAB 5

 

WEEK 8

Radar & laser altimetry; SAR

 

 

20 May 

Satellite radar & laser altimetry

 

 

Fricker

22 May

Satellite laser altimetry

Lab 7 discussion

HW7

Fricker

24 May

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Rees 9.1 - 9.3



Yao Yu

LAB

Image Classification

 

LAB 6

 

WEEK 9

SAR & applications

 

 

27 May

*** Memorial Day Holiday ***

 

29 May 

SAR Interferometry

Lab 8 discussion

Rees 9.4-9.5 

Yao Yu

31 May

SAR for solid earth and cryosphere

Fricker

LAB

Laser and Radar Altimetry

 

LAB 7

 

WEEK 10

Review & grad student presentations

 

 

LAB

Radar Interferometry

 

LAB 8 (optional)

Electromagnetic SpectrumElectromagnetic spectrum showing wavelengths used in satellite remote sensing