GEOG8701 Introduction to Remote Sensing GE

2017

4.5

1 x 2-hour lecture weekly
1 x 2-hour computer lab weekly

1 of GEOG2701, GEOG3014, GEOG8010, WARM8701 has been successfully completed

Students undertaking this topic will be introduced to the theory and application of remote sensing. The topic is designed for students from a wide range of backgrounds and will discuss remote sensing principles that are fundamental to scientists across all areas. It will consider the nature of electromagnetic radiation, its interaction with the atmosphere and Earth surface features; sensors and data sources; the treatment of distortion in remotely sensed imagery; field sampling and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for remote sensing. ERDAS IMAGINE's professional image processing software will provide students with hands-on experience. Students will also be introduced to a range of digital image analysis techniques that are used to extract useful Earth resource information from imagery, while the relationship between remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GPS) will also be demonstrated.

This topic provides students with a solid grounding in remote sensing principles that are fundamental to scientists across all areas. The topic aims to introduce students to the theory and application of remote sensing while also providing experience in the use of remote sensing software that will furnish students with skills of vocational value applicable to a range of areas such as Archaeology, Biodiversity Conservation, Earth Sciences, Geography and Environmental Monitoring and Mapping.

At the completion of the topic, students are expected to be able to:

1. Describe the fundamental characteristics of electomagnetic radiation and how this energy interacts with the atmosphere and Earth surface materials such as vegetation, soil and water
2. Discuss how electromagnetic energy reflected or emitted from there materials are recorded using a variety of remote sensing instruments
3. Explain the nature of geometric and radiometric error and how to correct or minimise these distortions in remotely sensed imagery
4. Explain appropriate field sampling techniques to assist in image interpretation and analysis of results
5. Extract land-cover information from remotely sensed data and describe the nature of both unsupervised and supervised classification methodology
6. Demonstrate the use of professional image processing software ERDAS IMAGINE for visualisation, geometric correction and inquiry of remotely sensed data
7. Produce a research report in accordance with good scholarly practice