3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023544FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Registration for “Remote Sensing of the Environment” is allowed if one has successfully accomplished “ or is registered for "Introduction to Remote Sensing"
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Educational team
Benoît Smets (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

15 contact hours Lecture
15 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
15 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course is complementary to the course “Advanced Earth Observation Techniques” and gives an overview of different imaging remote sensing techniques used to study environmental issues, with an emphasis on natural and anthropogenic hazards. The content of the course focuses on how to take advantage of the image characteristics (i.e., spectral range and resolution, spatial and temporal resolution, passive vs. active sensor, geometry of acquisition, etc.) to perform change/hotspot detection, atmospheric measurements, ground deformation monitoring and topographic reconstruction. If most of the described techniques make use of satellite imagery, they can also be applied to air- and ground-based image acquisitions. A selection of the topics discussed in the theoretical part of the course is illustrated with practical case studies to be carried out by the students using open-source remote sensing software. Results of the practical work are summarized and discussed in a series of scientific reports to be produced individually by each student.

 

1.            Spatial, temporal, radiometric and geometric characteristics of satellite image acquisitions

1.1          Specific characteristics of passive multispectral images

1.2          Specific characteristics of active Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images

 

2.            Multi- and hyperspectral remote sensing of natural hazards

2.1          Image differencing change detection using multispectral images

2.2          Gas and ash remote sensing

2.3          Thermal remote sensing of wildfires and volcanoes

 

3.            Radar remote sensing and radar interferometry

3.1          SAR amplitude images, polarimetry and their applications

3.2          SAR interferometry (InSAR) for ground surface deformation and digital elevation modelling

3.3          InSAR time-series for ground deformation monitoring

3.4          Other (In)SAR applications

 

4.            Structure-from-Motion Multi-View Stereo Photogrammetry

4.1          Introduction to SfM MVS photogrammetry

4.2          3D and 4D photogrammetric applications

 

5.            Introduction to multi-sensor remote sensing

Additional info

This new course will evolve during the next few years with additional material. The current core material is:

-Lecture slides

-Notes provided for each lecture, pending the completion of a syllabus

-Reference books and research articles

Learning Outcomes

general competencies

After successful completion of this course the student should:

  • Have a good knowledge of the characteristics and the use of important sensors for earth observation of environmental events;
  • Be familiar with the variety of remote sensing techniques available for measuring natural and anthropogenic events and phenomena, and the conditions that should be fulfilled for applying these techniques;
  • Have a good understanding of different methods offered by passive optical and active radar remote sensing for environmental studies;
  • Master different methods for change detection and be able to choose one or several proper method(s) depending on the type of application;
  • Be aware of the most important sources for obtaining information on the state-of-the-art of earth observation research, in order to expand the knowledge acquired during the course;
  • Be able to objectively compare results obtained with alternative methods for image interpretation;
  • Be able to critically report about results obtained and compare/relate these results to previous work by other researchers;
  • Be able to apply the learned techniques with open-source software and programming languages.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
PRAC Report determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral exam with written prepera with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Scientific report with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: Students cannot pass for this course if not all scientific reports have been submitted

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final grade is based on the following categories:

Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.

Practice Reports determine 50% of the final mark.

 

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

•Oral theory exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Note: Theory: oral exam with written preparation (50%)

 

Within the Practice Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:

•Evaluation scientific reports with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Note: Practicals: evaluation of scientific reports (50%). Students cannot pass for this course if not all scientific reports have been submitted.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Geography: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master in Applied Sciences and Engineering: Applied Computer Science: Standaard traject
Master of Geography: Standard track