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.

Prof Helen Amanda Fricker IGPP Revelle 1114
hafricker@ucsd.edu 619-993-3569

Guest lecturers: Dr Bryony Freer; Dr Yao Yu; Dr Molly Zebker

TA: Chancelor Roberts ccroberts@ucsd.edu

Lectures: MWF 3:30-4:20, Spiess Hall 330, in person

Lab Sessions/Office Hours: F 1:00-3:00, Eckart 225

Homework discussion by zoom: Time TBD.

Grading:        SIO 135 Homework/Labs (60%), Midterm (20%), Final (20%)

SIO236 Homework/Labs (50%), Midterm (20%), Term Paper (30%)

Citations for Homework: Feel free to use information found in books or on the internet.  Be sure to add a short citation to information you have gathered. This could be a short citation such as [Miller and others, JGR, 1978] or a hyperlink to the paper or web page. You can use ChatGPT but please make a note on when it was used. We are interested to know if it is a good learning tool for this class.

Grading of Homework and Labs: Most problems (easy or difficult) are graded on a 10 point scale. Working in groups on homework and labs is encouraged but do your own work in the end. We will check for identical answers and computer codes with 0 points for identical answers. There will be a deduction for late homework (10% for one day and a maximum of 30% for 3 days or more).

REQUIRED TEXT:

Rees, W. G. TITLE Physical principles of remote sensing SECOND OR THIRD EDITION, Cambridge University Press, 2013., 440 p.,

Free book access and download after VPN connection to UCSD.

WEB MATERIAL:

NASA Missions

NASA Science

NASA's WorldView

ESAS 2017 Decadal Survey Report

OTHER TEXT BOOKS:

Elachi, Charles Introduction to the physics and techniques of remote sensing /Charles Elachi. New York : Wiley, c1987. xvii, 413 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm. Wiley series in remote sensing. NOTE "A Wiley-Interscience publication." Includes bibliographies and index. ISBN 0471848107.

Stewart, Robert H. Methods of satellite oceanography / Robert H. Stewart. Berkeley : University of California Press, c1985. DESCRIPTION viii, 360 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 27 cm. SERIES Scripps studies in earth and ocean sciences. 1. Includes index. Bibliography: p. [329]-351. ISBN 0520042263. Astronautics in oceanography.

Gonzalez, Rafael C. Digital Image processing using MATLAB / Rafael C. Gonzalez, Richard E. Woods, Steven L. Eddins.  Upper Saddle River, N. J. : Pearson Prentice Hall,  c2004.  UCB   Engin       TA1632 .G66 2004

Gonzalez, Rafael C. Digital image processing / Rafael C. Gonzalez, Richard C. Woods. PUBLISHED Reading, Mass. : Addison-Wesley, c1992. DESCRIPTION xvi, 716 p.. [8] p. of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. NOTE Includes bibliographical references (p. 683-703) and index. ISBN 0201508036. SUBJECT Image processing --Digital techniques. Woods, Richard C.

Richards, J. A. (John Alan), 1945- Remote sensing digital image analysis : an introduction / John A. Richards. 2nd rev. and enlarged ed. Berlin ; New York : Springer-Verlag, c1993. xx, 340 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm. ncludes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 3540548408 (Berlin : acid-free paper) 0387548408 (New York : acid-free paper) Remote sensing.

SYLLABUS 2026

SYLLABUS 2026