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

31st March

Introduction to course:

labs, term papers

Overview of remote sensing

Rees 1.1-1.4 
Appendix

HW1

Sandwell

Weds

2nd April

Overview continued

Lab 0 discussion

Sandwell
Roberts

Friday

4th 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

7th April

Electromagnetic (EM) radiation, polarization

Rees 2.1-2.2 
EM Summary

HW2

Fricker

Weds

9th April

Lecture continued
Lab 1 discussion

Fricker

Roberts

Friday

11th April

GPS and the ionosphere

Rees 2.3

Sandwell

LAB

MATLAB basics, plotting

 

LAB 1

 

WEEK 3

Fourier Transforms & Thermal Radiation

Monday

14th April

Spectra and Fourier transforms

Rees. 2.7
notes on Fourier

HW3

Sandwell

Weds

16th April

Diffraction

Lab 2 discussion

Sandwell

Roberts

Friday

18th 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

21st April 

Thermal radiation

Rees 3.1, 3.3

HW4

Fricker

Weds

23rd April

Surface scattering

Lab 3 discussion

Rees 3.5

Fricker

Friday

25th April 

Surface scattering cntd & Atmospheric scattering

Rees 11.1-11.2

Sandwell

LAB

Data Types

 

LAB 3

 

WEEK 5

Image Processing

Monday

28th April

Image Processing - 1

Rees 11.3-11.4

Sandwell

Weds

30th April

Image Processing - 2
Lab 5 discussion

Rees 5.1-5.3 

 HW5

Roberts

Sandwell

Friday

2nd May

Stereo Notes/Examples

Optical imagery, CORONA, MODIS

Satellite Design

Rees 5.4-5.5

Sandwell

LAB

Image Processing

 

LAB 4

 

WEEK 6

  Midterm review and exam

Monday

5th May

Passive microwave systems & applications 

 

 

Fricker

Weds 7th May

Review and go over HW 1-5

Practice Midterm

Fricker/Roberts

Friday 9th May 

Midterm exam

 

WEEK 7

Radar and Laser altimetry

 

 

Monday

12th May 

Image classification

Rees 7.1-7.4


  HW6

Fricker

Weds

14th May

 

Fricker

 

Friday

16th May

Satellite radar altimetry

Rees  8.1 - 8.3

Fricker

LAB

Google Earth Engine

 

LAB 5

 

WEEK 8

Scatterometry, SAR, & InSAR

 

 

19th May 

Scatterometry

Rees 9.1 - 9.3

 

Sandwell

21st May

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Lab 6 discussion- Image classification and Machine Learning

Rees 9.4

HW7

Sandwell/Roberts

23rd May

Interferometric SAR

Rees 9.5



Sandwell

LAB

Image Classification

 

LAB 6

 

WEEK 9

SAR & applications

 

 

26th May

*** Memorial Day Holiday ***

 

28th May 

Solid Earth Applications of RS

Lab 7 discussion

Rees 9.4-9.5 

Sandwell

30th May

Cryospheric Applications of RS

Fricker

LAB

Laser and Radar Altimetry

 

LAB 7

 

WEEK 10

Review & grad student presentations

 

 

LAB

Radar Interferometry

 

LAB 8 (optional)

Electromagnetic Spectrum