Location:

ERSL
3004 Bowman-Oddy Laboratories
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio 43606


Department Info:

University of Toledo
Dept. of Environmental Sciences
2801 Bancroft Street,
Mail Stop 604
Toledo, OH 43606
Tel: (419) 530-2009
Fax: (419) 530-4421


EEES 4490/5490

Remote Sensing of the Environment

Course Overview:    This course will acquaint students with the fundamentals of the remote sensing process.  Students will become acquainted with a variety of airborne and satellite sensor platforms which collect data in the visible, near infrared, thermal and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.  By the end of the course the students should understand the fundamental methods behind the different sensing techniques, and know which techniques are best used to answer a wide variety of scientific questions. 
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the material through practical assignments and homework as well as exams.


This course will is offered at both the 4000 and 5000 level. Students taking the course at the 4000 level will have approximately 6-8 computer based practical exercises and 2 exams. Students taking the course at the 5000 level will be expected to complete all of the requirements of the 4000 level course, plus the completion of either a directed project or paper, with an in class presentation.

Text:

Course Topics:
Introduction to Remote Sensing
The remote sensing process
Electromagnetic Radiation Principles
Visible/near infrared radiation, Thermal infrared radiation, microwave radiation
Elements of Photographic Systems
History; film characteristics; camera systems, Air Photo Interpretation
Photogrammetry
Characteristics of vertical photos; determining scale; measuring distances and heights of objects.  Stereoscopic viewing-equipment; image parallax; measurements using stereopair photographs.
Introduction to Electronic Sensors
Concept of spectral signatures; field radiometry; electronic scanning systems.
Introduction to Optical Satellite Systems
Landsat/SPOT; Meteorological; Ocean, NASA, ESA, Private
Microwave Remote Sensing
Sensing process; interpretation of data; sensing systems- applications
SAR, Passive systemsn, Interferometry (optional)
Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing
Thermal signal sources and sensors; calibration issues; interpretation of data; applications.
Remote Sensing of Vegetation
Spectral Vegetation Indices.
Aquatic Remote Sensing
Aquatic Optics
Remote Sensing identification of Lithology, Soils
Urban Remote Sensing
Land Use/Land Cover Classification
Digital Image Processing
Data Merging and scaling issues.