Tools of the trade

Introduction to Remote
Sensing
 Remote Sensing
• General definition

• Applied definition
 Remote Sensing
• Formal definition
– Acquisition and measurement of data on
property(ies) of a phenomenon by recording
device not in physical contact with feature(s)
• RS techniques
– Measure force fields, EM radiation, or acoustic
energy
– Use cameras, radiometers, scanners, lasers,
radios, radar systems, sonar, thermal devices,
seismographs, magnetometers, gravimeters and
other instruments
The Remote Sensing System

s or
n
Se
 The Remote Sensing System
• Energy source
• Transmission through atmosphere
• Interaction with target
• Retransmission through atmosphere
• Recording of energy by sensor
• Data download
• Interpretation and analysis
• Application
 History of Remote Sensing
• The beginning of RS
– Technology started with photography in early 19th
century
– Balloons used for aerial photos in 1840s
– Photographic camera most common sensor for >
150 years
• Higher altitude image acquisitions
– 1940’s  rocket launched cameras: still or movie
collection
– The first non-film sensors on unmanned
spacecraft used to observe clouds
 History of Remote Sensing
(cont’d)

• Transition to humans in space

 Modern Space Remote
Sensing
• Modern RS
– Satellites designed for capture of earth resource
information
– Landsat Multispectral Scanner System launched in
1972
• Characteristics of MSS
– Consistent, synoptic, high resolution
images of earth
– 4 spectral bands, 80m spatial resolution,
large coverage area (185 × 185 km)
– Repeated coverage every 18 days
– Digitally formatted imagery
 Modern Space Remote
Sensing cont.
• Since 1972
– Many satellites and sensors launched
– Sponsored by various governments and
commercial sector
– Additional sensors available using airborne
platform
• Types of sensors extended
– Multispectral e.g. MSS, TM, ETM+, SPOT
– Hyperspectral e.g. AVIRIS, HYDICE
– High spatial resolution e.g. IKONOS, QuickBird,
Emerge
– Low spatial resolution e.g. AVHRR, GOES
 Applications of Remote
Sensing
• Atmosphere and meteorology

• Global change detection and monitoring

• Military

• Mapping
 Applications of Remote
Sensing
• Environmental assessment and
monitoring

• Agriculture

• Renewable natural resources

 Stages in Applying RS
• Define issue
• Consider issues with RS system
• Assessing the end product
 Photographic Film Types
• Black and white

• Color

• Controlling information recorded

 Black and White Film
Structure
Film cross-section
Emulsion

Polyester base

Backing
 Black and White Film
Sensitivity
Spectral
Sensitivity
Panchromatic

B/W infrared

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Wavelength (µm)
 Human Vision System
• Aperture

• Light detection in eye

– Rods

– Cones
 Color Film Structure
Film cross-section
Blue sensitive Yellow
Green sensitive filter
Red sensitive

Polyester base
Backing
 Normal Color Film Sensitivity
Blue sensitive dye
(yellow forming) Green sensitive dye
( Magenta forming)
Spectral
Sensitivity

Red sensitive dye

(Cyan forming)

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Wavelength (µm)
 Color IR Film Sensitivity
Yellow forming
Spectral Magenta forming
Sensitivity

Cyan forming

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Wavelength (µm)
 Filters
• Purpose of filters

• Common filters

• Challenge with filtering

 Aerial Film Cameras
• Handheld cameras
– 35 mm (24 × 36 mm frame)
– 70 mm (55 × 55 mm frame)
• Purpose built aerial cameras

• Types of aerial cameras

 Single-Lens Frame Cameras
• Application

• Characteristics of mapping cameras

 Single-Lens Frame Cameras
• Focal length

• Angular field of view

 Single-Lens Frame Camera
Components
• Lens assembly

• Body
• Magazine
 Single-Lens Frame Camera
• Film exposure
 Panoramic Cameras
• Approach

• Distortions

• Compared to frame cameras

 History of Landsat
• Early satellites designed for weather
applications

• Partnership in Earth Resources Technology

Satellites

• Planned satellite names

– Pre-launch ERTS-A, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F
– After-launch ERTS-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6
 History of Landsat
• First launch
ERTS-1 23 July 1972: renamed Landsat-1 in
1975
• First satellite for earth resource
observation
• Intent
 Satellite Launch Decomm. Sensors Orbit

Landsat-1 1972 1978 RBV, MSS 18 days/900 km

Landsat-2 1975 1982 RBV, MSS 18 days/900 km
Landsat-3 1978 1983 RBV, MSS 18 days/900 km
Landsat-4 1982 1993* MSS, TM 16 days/705 km
Landsat-5 1984 MSS, TM 16 days/705 km
Landsat-6 1993 Failed ETM 16 days/705 km
Landsat-7 1999 2003* ETM+ 16 days/705 km

* Partial system failure

 Spectral Resolution: RBV
0. 0. 1. 3.
4 7 3 0

Visible Near-IR Mid-IR Thermal-IR

Wavelength (µm)
Pan A-D*
(30 m)

Multi 1° 2° 3°
(80 m)

° Onboard Landsat-1, -2
* Onboard Landsat-3
 Spectral Resolution: MSS
0. 0. 1. 3.
4 7 3 0

Visible Near-IR Mid-IR Thermal-IR

Wavelength (µm)

Multi 4° 5° 6° 7°
(79°/82* m) 1* 2* 3* 4*

Thermal 8#
(240 m) ° Onboard Landsat-1, -2, -3
#
Onboard Landsat-3 – failed after launch
* Onboard Landsat-4, -5
 Spectral Resolution: TM
0. 0. 1. 3.
4 7 3 0

Visible Near-IR Mid-IR Thermal-IR

Wavelength (µm)

Multi 1 2 3 4 5 7
(30 m)

Thermal 6
(120 m)

Onboard Landsat-4, -5
 Spectral Resolution: ETM+
0. 0. 1. 3.
4 7 3 0

Visible Near-IR Mid-IR Thermal-IR

Wavelength (µm)
Pan 8
(15 m)

Multi
1 2 3 4 5 7
(30 m)

Thermal
6
(60 m)
Onboard Landsat-6*, -7
 Landsat-1, -2, -3
• Satellite
– Size:
– Weight:
• Orbit
– Altitude:
– Orbital inclination:
– Orbit:
– Repeat:
– Swath width:
 Landsat-1, -2, -3
• RBV

• MSS
– IFOV 
– Total FOV:
– Scanner:
– Radiometry:
– Frame:
 Landsat-1, -2, -3
• Scene designation
– Use Worldwide Reference System (WRS)
– Each orbit is a path
• 001 to 251 (E –W)
– Each frame in path is row
• Row 60 at equator
 Landsat-4, -5
• Satellite
– Size:
– Weight:
• Orbit
– Altitude:
– Orbital inclination:
– Orbit:
– Repeat:
– Swath width:
 Landsat-4, -5
• MSS

– IFOV 
– Total FOV:
– Swath width:
• TM
– Radiometry:
– IFOV 
 Landsat-4, -5
• Scene designation
– Different WRS labels
– Each orbit is a path
• 001 to 233 (E –W)
– Each frame in path is row
• Row 1 at 80° 47' N
• Row 60 at equator
• Data distribution
 Landsat-6
• Orbit
– Planned similar to Landsat-4 and -5
• Mission
– Carrying Enhanced Thematic Mapper
– Failed on launch
 Landsat-7
• Satellite
– Similar to Landsat-4 and -5
• Orbit
– Altitude:
– Orbital inclination:
– Orbit:
– Repeat:
– Swath width:
 Landsat-7
• ETM+

• Data collection
 Landsat-7 Failure
• Scan line corrector

http://landsat7.usgs.gov/updates.php
 Landsat Applications
• Commonly used sensors

• Applications
 Landsat Future?
• Landsat Data Continuity Mission

• Options
– Fully commercial
– Commercial ownership: government data
distribution
– International consortium: government data
distribution
– Fully US Government operated (similar to Landsat
7)
 Readings
• Chapter 6: sections 6.3 – 6.9