Remote Sensing and Image Analysis

Objectives

The overall objective is the transmission of theoretical and practical expertise for the interpretation, processing and extraction of the surface geological information acquired through indirect methods of observation (aerial photographs and satellite images).

The specific objectives are: (i) provide basic knowledge for identifying geomorphological and litho-stratigraphic structures using stereo-pair aerial photos and; (ii) provide basic and fundamental knowledge for the enhancement of surface features through specific techniques of image processing applied to satellite imagery for earth observation.

The students who succeed in this course must be able to understand the main uses and be trained on the geological interpretation of aerial photographs and satelite images. It is also the aim of the course to give bases to other thematics of the geological sciences, namely Applied Geology and Engeneering Geology, as well as to Geological Mapping.

General characterization

Code

11369

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

José Carlos Ribeiro Kullberg, Maria da Graça Azevedo de Brito

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 62

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Students that apply correctly to the Course

Bibliography

M. RICCI & S. PETRI (1965) - Principios de aerofotogrametria e interpretação geológica. Comp. Ed. Nac., São Paulo.

P. STRAIN & F. ENGLE (1992) - A Terra vista do espaço. Turner Publishing Inc., Atlanta.
Manuel photo - interprétation. Ed. Technip, Paris, 1970.

T. LILLESAND & R. KIEFER (1994) - Remote sensing and image interpretation. John Wiley &Sons, New York, 3ª ed.

Fernández-Prieto, D.; Sabia, R. (2013) - Remote Sensing Advances for Earth System Science.  Springer, 103 p. ISBN 978-3-642-32521-2

Khorram, S., Koch, F.H., van der Wiele, C.F., Nelson, S.A.C. (2012) - Remote Sensing. Springer, 134 p. ISBN 978-1-4614-3103-9

Teaching method

Different learning methods are used in this course:

- Tutorial teaching, corresponding to the programmed lectures and laboratory sessions

- E-learning methods are available by use of the Moodle  platform, where students can contact instructors for dialogues and questions that they need to ask. This learning component does not substitute the mandatory office hours.

Evaluation method

The program is divided into two parts:

            1 – Photointerpretation;

            2 – Satelite image processing.

Assessment of discipline can be reached by one of the following components

-contínuous: students have 2 mini-tests (MT1 and MT2). The first referes to photointerpretation (theoretical  (MT1) and practical (MP1)). "image processing" have a mini-test (MT2). A practical component (MP1) related to the practical component of photointerpretation will be done.

Regarding the practical evaluation of "image processing" subject: students must carry out, in groups of 2, a practical work made available and partially carried out during classes and finished in autonomy. It is a condition of attendance to the discipline to carry out at least 6 hours of ESRI courses for image processing, to be done independently, with delivery of the respective certificates.

or

- Final exam - students with frequency that obtained in one or more of the mini-tests less than 6/20 values need to repeat the parts.

 

Final clssification (FC) is obtained by the following equation:

           FC = 0,20MT1 + 0,30MP1 + 0,20MT2 + 0,30PC

Subject matter

The content is divided into two parts: Photogeology (7 lectures and theoretical-practical) and Satellite (7 lectures and theoretical-practical)

Part 1 - Photo-interpretation of surface vegetation - Fundamental concepts of interpretation of stereoscopic pairs of aereal photographs. Methods of stereoscopic observation. Criteria for identification of diferent types of occupation of the soil (shape, tone, texture and hydrographic network). Superficial patterns and relation with soil and bedrock.

Laboratory - Cartography and interpretation of aerial photographs using (i) stereoscopes (stereo-pair ortho- photos) and stereographic specific software (for digital photographs).

Part 2 - Satellites - Basic concepts: Electromagnetic radiation. Spectral signature of the main surface features. Satellites for earth observation. Passive and active systems. Optical sensors. Structure of a digital image. Satellite sensors and characteristics. Image processing techniques: spectral correction, color composition; ratios and vegetation indexes, spectral classification.

Laboratory - Satellite image (Landsat or Sentinel) processing using specific software.