Remote Sensing Course
by Delio Tortosa

TOPIC 1
What is Remote Sensing
     Human Perception
    Visual Angle Graph
    Aerial Camera
   Satellites
Uses of Remote Sensing
      Weather
     Agriculture
     Environment
     Forestry
     Geology
Active & Passive RS
Products of Remote Sensing
Vertical Aerial Photography
     Perspective View
     Planimetric View
Maps & Cartography
     Scale Terminology
     Small Scale
     Large Scale
References

TOPIC 2
Shape of the Earth
Latitude & Longitude
Map Projections
Map Distortion
Projection Examples
    Orthographic
    Planar (Azimuthal)
    Conic
    Cylindrical
    Transverse Cylindrical
UTM Coordinates
General Land Office Survey
USGS Topographic Maps
References

TOPIC 3
Electromagnetic Spectrum
    EM Radiation
    Wavelength/Frequency
    EM Spectrum
    Visible Spectrum
Radiation Interaction
    The Earth
    The Atmosphere
    Atmospheric Absorbtion
    Atmospheric Windows
CIR Photography
    Color Infrared
    Vegetation Reflectance
    Leaf Cross-Section
    Normal & False Color
    Spectral Signatures
    Object Signatures
References

TOPIC 4
Vertical Aerial Photography
Camera-Ground Relation
Airphoto Components
Sault Ste. Marie Airphoto
Overflight Characteristics
    Flight Lines
    Forward Overlap
    Sidelap
    Coverage Errors
        Drift
        Crab
Object Location
Airphoto Scale
Height Determination
   Single Photo Method
   Parallax Method
References

TOPIC 5
Airphoto Interpretation
Signature Characteristics
     Tone
     Shape
     Size
     Pattern
     Texture
     Shadow
     Association
Measuring Areas
     Dot Grid Example
Airphoto Mosaics
     Uncontrolled
     Controlled
     Orthophoto
Change Detection
    Forest Cover
    Urban Land
    Landscape
References

TOPIC  6
Land Use/Land Cover
    Hiawatha Forest
    Sault Ste. Marie
Classification Systems
    USGS Level I
    USGS Level II
    Level I,II,III,IV
   Chippewa Cty Level I
   Chippewa Cty Level II
   Chippewa Cty Level III
Limits to LU/LC Mapping
Michigan Inventory
References

TOPIC 7
Map Interpretation
    Definition
    Reference Maps
    Thematic Maps
Map Symbolization
    Point Symbols
    Line Symbols
    Area Symbols
Map Examples
    Point Data
    Graduated Points
    Graduated Lines
    Area Data
Choropleth Maps
    Equal Interval Map
    Equal Interval Chart
    Quantile Map
    Quantile Chart
Temporal-Trend Maps
Dot Density Maps
References

TOPIC 8
Map Analysis
    Analytical Process
Location Map Patterns
   Frequency Distribution
   Map Central Tendency
Distance Patterns
   Density Analysis
   Cluster Analysis
   Clustered Distribution
   Dispersed Distrinution
   Variance-Mean Ratio
Directional Patterns
   Directional Bias
   Directional Alignment
Line Patterns
   Line Pattern Examples
Area Patterns
Overlaying Area Patterns
   Qualitative Example
   Quantitative Example
       Suitability Analysis
       Suitability Map
Comparing Map Patterns
  Map Pattern Correlation
   Graphic Correlation
   Regressions & Residuals
   Degree of Correlation
References

TOPIC 9
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Definition
General Background
Historical Perspective
GIS Data Models
    Raster Data Model
    Vector Data Model
    Vector GIS Example
    Attribute Table
GIS Components
Data Input
  Data Input Methods
    Interchange Formats
Database Management
   Simple Database
    Relational Database
Data Analysis
Data Output
   Data Output Devices
GIS Project Planning
  GIS Project Structure
Design Example
  Land Use/Cover
    Attribute Table
    Spatial Data
References

TOPIC 10
Image Processing
   Analog Images
   Digital Images
   Pixel Values
   Image Resolution
Processing Procedures
   Image Restoration
   Stripping/Banding
   Dropped Lines
Image Enhancement
   Image Histogram
   Contrast Stretching
    Linear Stretch
    Equalized Stretch
    Linear Stretch Example
Spatial Filtering
   Low-pass Filters
   Hi-pass Filters
   Directional Filters
   Density Slicing
   Image Mosaicing
Information Extraction
    False Color Composites
    Image Ratios
    NDVI
    Principle Components
   PCA Example
Image Classification
  Unsupervised
    Supervised
  Limitations
References

TOPIC 11
Satellite Mapping of Earth Resources
     Satellite Orbits
     Satellite Swath
Satellite Sensors
    Across Track Scanners
    Along Track Scanners
   Ground Resolution
Landsat Program
   Landsat MSS
   Return Beam Vidicon
   Standard RGB Array
   Landsat TM
   Landsat TM Image
   Landsat Applications
SPOT Program
SPOT Imaging System
  Stereoscopic Imaging
  SPOT Image Example
Space Shuttle
Large Format Camera
  Hand-held Camera
Satellite Imaging Systems
  Government Operated
References

TOPIC 12
Satellite Mapping of the Atmosphere & Water
Weather Satellites
   GOES Satellite
       Geostationary Orbit
       Spectral Bands
       Visible Image
       IR Image
       Water Vapor Image
       Natural Color Image
Polar Orbiting Satellites
   TIROS Satellite
       Spectral Bands
       Weather Image
       Sea Temperature
     Vegetation Cover
   NIMBUS Satellite
      CZ Color Scanner
        Phytoplankton Image
        Total Ozone Mapping
        Ozone Change
References

TOPIC 13
Radar Imagery
   Plan Position Radar
   Side-Looking Radar
Advantages of Radar
  All-weather operation
   Day/night operation
Radar Basics
   How Radar Works
   Energy/Time Graph
   Radar Geometry
   Radar Terminology
   Microwave Spectrum
   Radar Bands
   Radar Image Example
Radar Image Signatures
   Surface Roughness
   Radar Polarization
   Polarization Example
Spatial Resolution
   Range Resolution
   Azimuth Resolution
Synthetic Aperture Radar
Radar Image Distortions
  Scale Distortion
  Scale Distortion Example
  Relief Displacement
     Foreshortening
     Layover
     Radar Shadow
Airborne vs. Space Radar
   Airborne Radar Systems
   Spaceborne Radar Systems
Radar Applications
   Stereo Radar
References

TOPIC 14
Environmental Monitoring & Assessment
Monitoring of Natural Disasters
    Affect of Hurricane
    Oil Spill Detection
Ocean Color & Phytoplankton
Mapping & Monitoring Ozone
Oceanic & Atmospheric Weather Phenomena - El Niño
Remote Sensing of El Niño
NOAA/TIROS AVHRR
    Topex/Poseidon Satellite
    ADEOS Satellite Sensor
    NASA/NIMBUS Satellite
El Niño Remote Sensing Animation
Biological Effects of El Niño
    Western N. America
    Western S. America

TOPIC 15
Remote Sensing Applications