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2022/2023

Advanced Remote Sensing

Code: 43382 ECTS Credits: 9
Degree Type Year Semester
4314828 Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems OT 0 2

Contact

Name:
Xavier Pons Fernandez
Email:
xavier.pons@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
spanish (spa)

Other comments on languages

Approximately 100% of the classes are in Spanish. Most of the bibliography is in English.

Teachers

Pere Serra Ruiz

External teachers

Bernat Codina
Carolina Gabarró
Joan Bech
Jordi Isern
Ricardo Díaz-Delgado

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are not required

Objectives and Contextualisation

This optional module, expands the knowledge acquired in the module of obtaining geographic information of this same master's degree from the study of techniques and applications specific to remote sensing in fields such as meteorology, oceanography, geology and the study of vegetation.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

  1. Apply the methodologies to alleviate the different sources of error in order to visualize and extract physical parameters of the received data.
  2. Apply remote sensing techniques to different fields of research and applied.

Competences

  • Apply different methodologies for the primary processing of images obtained by remote sensors in order to subsequently extract geographic information.
  • Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously.
  • Identify and propose innovative, competitive applications based on the knowledge acquired.
  • Take a holistic approach to problems, offering innovative solutions and taking appropriate decisions based on knowledge and judgement.
  • Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
  • Use the different techniques for obtaining information from remote images.
  • Write up and publicly present work done individually or in a team in a scientific, professional context.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply remote sensing techniques to different research and applied-research fields.
  2. Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously.
  3. Correctly apply methodologies to mitigate the different sources of error in order to visualise and extract physical parameters from the data received.
  4. Identify and propose innovative, competitive applications based on the knowledge acquired.
  5. Take a holistic approach to problems, offering innovative solutions and taking appropriate decisions based on knowledge and judgement.
  6. Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
  7. Write up and publicly present work done individually or in a team in a scientific, professional context.

Content

RS & METEOROLOGY. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

1. Introduction
2. Classical meteorology
3. Interpretation of satellite images
  3.1 Images in the visible spectrum
  3.2 Images in the thermal infrared
  3.3 Images of water vapor
  3.4 Compositions RGB
4. The weather radar
  4.1 Propagation of the microwave into the atmosphere
  4.2 The radar equation
  4.3 Observations of the Doppler radar

 

RS & OCEANOGRAPHY. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

1. Introduction
2. Fundamentals of Oceanography
  2.1 Descriptive oceanography
  2.2 Dynamic oceanography
  2.3 Remotely observable phenomena
3. Observation with passive sensors
  3.1 Observation in the visible spectrum
  3.2 Observation in the infrared spectrum
  3.3 Observation in the microwave spectrum
4. Observation with active sensors
  4.1 Generalities
  4.2 The dispersometer
  4.3 The SAR
  4.4 The altimeter
5. Application: sea currents


RS & GEOLOGY. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

Contents based on a series of guided practical exercises dedicated to showing examples of the use of Remote Sensing in the monitoring of volcanoes, episodes of floods, monitoring of the evolution of snow and ice, etc.

 
RS & VEGETATION. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

1. The problematic thematic/spectral classes. Land uses and land coverings.
2. Specific techniques.
  2.1 Spectral separability
  2.2 Vegetation indexes
  2.3 Tasseled Cap Transformation.
3. Prevention of forest fires.
4. Active fire.
5. Techniques of analysis of changes in time.
  5.1 Assessment of burnt surfaces.
  5.2 Studies of regeneration of vegetation after forest fires.
6. Analysis and multitemporal classification of roofs (example of crops)
  6.1 Spectral signatures
  6.2 Phenology and temporary signatures
  6.3 Classification
  6.4 Analysis of changes
  6.5 Enrichment of databases
7. Examples of practical applications

Methodology

In this module there are 3 groups of learning activities:

Targeted activities consist of classes of theory and practices that will be carried out in a specialized computer room. At the beginning of each of the subjects that make up the module, the teachers will explain the structure of the theoretical-practical contents, as well as the evaluation method.

Supervised activities consist of classroom practices that will allow you to prepare the work and exercises of each subject, as well as tutorial sessions with the teachers in case the students request it.

Autonomous activities are a set of activities related to the elaboration of works, exercises and exams, such as the study of different material in the form of journal articles, reports, data, etc., defined according to the needs of autonomous work of each student.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master classes / exhibitions 48 1.92 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6
Type: Supervised      
Classroom practices 60 2.4 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6
Tutorials 4 0.16 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6
Type: Autonomous      
Personal study 22 0.88 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6
Personal study 90 3.6 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6

Assessment

The evaluation of this subject consists of the following system:

a) The realization of 1 exam, that will be between 10 % and 20 % of the final mark and that will include the theoretical and practical contents carried out. An exam not reaching the minimum mark of 5 out of 10 must be repeated the day assigned by the teacher of the subject.

b) The accomplishment of different practical works proposed throughout the teaching of the module and delivered within the fixed term, that will be between 80 % and 90 % of the final mark. A correct formal presentation and careful preparation will be taken to account.

 

Aspects to take into account.

-        Regular class attendance is highly recommended in order to follow the lessons properly. Follow on through streaming is only justified in cases of physical impossibility for face-to-face assistance, since an important part of the experiences and learning are fully achieved through contact with the teaching staff and classmates.

-        If you have to deliver practical work, this delivery must be done within the deadlines for them to be evaluated.

-        On carrying out each evaluation activity, Lecturers will inform of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

Extraordinary exams.

-        The exams or other evaluation procedures not reaching the minimum mark of 5 out of 10 must be repeated. This extraordinary exam is unique.

-        Students will have the opportunity to take a extraordinary exam the day or days scheduled by the faculty.

Cheating: Copies and plagiarisms.

-        By copies, we refer to the evidence that thework, project, exam, etc has been partially or totally created/answered without the intellectual contribution of the author. In this definition, we also include the proven attempt to copy in the exams and delivered works and projects and the violation of the laws that assure intellectual authorship. Plagiarisms refer to the works and texts from other authors that someone pretends to be his/her own creation. It is a crime against intellectual property. In order to avoid committing plagiarism, quote all the sources that you use when writing the report of a project. According to UAB’s law, copies and plagiarisms or any other attempt to alter the results of one’s own evaluation or someone else’s ‑allowing to copy, for example‑ implies a result in the corresponding part (theory, problems or practical tasks) of a 0 and, in this case, the student will fail the subject. This does not limit the right to take academic and legal actions against those who have participated. See UAB documentation about copies and plagiarisms http://wuster.uab.es/web_argumenta_obert/unit_20/sot_2_01.html

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Practical works 80%- 90% 0 0 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6
Theoretical exam 10%-20% 1 0.04 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 7, 6

Bibliography

RS & GEOLOGY. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

Cea C, Cristóbal J, Pons X (2007) An improved methodology to map snow cover by means of Landsat and MODIS imagery. Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2007. IGARSS 2007. IEEE Internacional, 4217 - 4220. DOI 10.1109/IGARSS.2007.4423984, p2037.pdf Barcelona.
Cea C, Cristóbal J, Pons X (2006) Mejoras en la determinación de la cubierta nival mediante imágenes Landsat y Modis. Camacho Olmedo MT, Cañete Pérez JA, Lara Valle JJ (eds.) El acceso a la información espacial y las nuevas tecnologías geográficas, 65-78 (edición en CD-ROM). ISBN: 84-333-3944-6. Depósito legal: GR-1855-2006. XII Congreso Nacional de Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica, Granada.
Cea C, Cristóbal J, Serra P, Pons X, Pastor J, Monterde M (2006) Determinació de la superfície nival a Catalunya mitjançant la Teledetecció. Publicado en Internet: http://www.icc.es/allaus/jortec2.html. 2a Jornada Tècnica de Neu i Allaus, Barcelona.
Dozier J, Painter T.H. 2004. Multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing of alpine snow properties. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2004. 32:465-94.
Dozier J. 1989. Spectral signature of alpine snow cover from the Landsat Thematic Mapper. Remote Sens. Environ.28:9-22
Hall D.K et al. 2005. Estimation of snow extent and snow properties. Encyclopedia of Hydrological Sciencies. Edited by M G Anderson
König M et al .2001. Measuring snow and glacier ice properties from satellite.Reviw of Geophysics, 39, 1/February 2001. 1-27.
Seidel K, Martinec J. 2004. Remote sensing of snow hydrology. Runoff Modelling, Effect of climate change. Praxis
Snow, hydrology and forests in High alpine Areas. 1991. IAHS Publication No.205

RS & VEGETATION. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

Díaz-Delgado R, Lloret F, Pons X (2004) Spatial patterns of fire occurrence in Catalonia, NE, Spain. Landscape Ecology 19: 731-745. http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/60332/1/Diaz-Delgado_etal_2004b.pdf.
Díaz-Delgado R, Lloret F, Pons X (2004) Statistical analysis of fire frequency models for Catalonia (NE Spain, 1975-1998) based on fire scar maps from Landsat MSS data. International Journal of Wildland Fire 13: 89-99. DOI: 10.1071/WF02051.
Díaz-Delgado R, Lloret F, Pons X (2003) Influence of fire severity on plant regeneration by means of remote sensing imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing 24 (8): 1751-1763. http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/60313/1/Diaz-Delgado_etal_2003.pdf
Díaz-Delgado R, Pons X (2001) Spatial patterns of forest fires in Catalonia (NE of Spain) along the period 1975-1995. Analysis of vegetation recovery after fire. Forest Ecology and Management 147 (1): 67-74. DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00434-5
Moré G, Serra P, Pons X (2011) Multitemporal flooding dynamics of rice fields by means of discriminant analysis of radiometrically corrected remote sensing imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing 32 (7): 1983-2011 DOI: 10.1080/01431161003645816.
Pons X, Cristóbal J, González O, Riverola A, Serra P, Cea C, Domingo C, Díaz P, Monterde M, Velasco E (2012) Ten years of Local Water Resource Management: Integrating Satellite Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems. European Journal of Remote Sensing 45: 317-332. DOI: 10.5721/EuJRS20124528. http://www.aitjournal.com/articleView.aspx?ID=567
Serra P, Salvati L, Queralt E, Pin C, González-Guerrero O, Pons X (2016) Estimating water consumption and irrigation requirements in a long-established Mediterranean rural community by remote sensing and field data. Irrigation and Drainage. DOI: 10.1002/ird.1978. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ird.1978/pdf
Serra P, Pons X (2015)Uncertainty visualization of remote sensing crop maps enriched at parcel scale: A contribution for a more conscious GIS dataset usage Journal of Maps 15 Nov 2015. DOI: 10.1080/17445647.2015.1113390. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17445647.2015.1113390
Serra P, Pons X (2013) Two Mediterranean irrigation communities in front of water scarcity: A comparison using satellite image time series. Journal of Arid Environments 98: 41-51. DOI: j.jaridenv.2013.07.011.
Serra P, Moré G, Pons X (2009) Thematic accuracy consequences in cadaster land-cover enrichment from a pixel and from a polygon perspective. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 75 (12): 1441-1449.http://eserv.asprs.org/PERS/2009journal/dec/2009_dec_1441-1449.pdf
Serra P, Pons X (2008) Monitoring farmers' decisions on Mediterranean irrigated crops using satellite image time series. International Journal of Remote Sensing 29 (8): 2293 - 2316. DOI: 10.1080/01431160701408444
Serra P, Pons X, Saurí D (2003) Post-classification change detection with data from different sensors: some accuracy considerations. International Journal of Remote Sensing 24 (16): 3311-3340.

RS & OCEANOGRAPHY. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

Apel 1987. Principles of ocean physics. Academic Press.
Stewart 2008. Introduction to physical oceanography. http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng textbook/contents.html.
The Open University Team 1989. Ocean Circulation. Open University.
The Open University Team 1989. Waves, Tides and Shallow wàter processes. Open University.
Talley, Pickard, Emery and Swift 2011. Descriptive Physical Oceanography. 6th ed. Elsevier.
Pond, Pickard 1995. Introductory Dynamical Oceanography. 2nd ed. Pergamon Press
Robinson 2004. Measuring the oceans from space. SpringerPraxis
Robinson 2010. Discovering the Ocean from Space. SpringerPraxis
Martin 2014. An Introduction to Ocean remote Sensing. Cambridge 2n Ed.

RS & METEOROLOGY. TECHNIQUES & EXAMPLES

Atlas, D., ed. 1990, Radar in Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 806 pp
Bech, J, Chau J.L., 2012: Doppler radar observations. Intech. Open Access book http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/2036
Collier, C.G., 1996, Applications of Weather Radar Systems, Wiley, 390 pp
Doviak, V.A., and D.S. Zrnic, 1993, Doppler radar and weather observations, Academic Press, 562 pp
Meischner P. (editor), 2003: Weather Radar : Principles and Advanced Applications. Springer; 1 edition (August 22, 2005) . ISBN: 3540003282, 337 pp.
O'Hora F, J Bech, 2007, Improving weather radar observations using pulse-compression techniques.
Meteorological Applications 14:389 – 401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/met.38
Rinehart, R.E., 1991, Radar for Meteorologists, Rinehart, P.O. Box 6124, Grand Forks, ND, 58206-6124, US, 335 pp
Skolnik, M.I., 1981, Introduction to radar systems, McGraw-Hill, New York, 581 pp

 

Software

MiraMon, ArcGIS, QGIS, BILKO, SNAP, Office Microsoft