Comsats University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus

Geo-Informatics
Assignment # 01

Guide to Earth Explorer for Landsat 8

Submitted To: Sir Rauf

Submitted By:
Zalan Alam Khan FA16-CVE-065
Shawal Akhtar FA16-CVE-061
Uzair Ali FA16-cve-073

Section: CVE-8B
Submission: Friday, July 10th 2020
 Abstract
There has been a surge in space race in last half a century, each every country trying to monitor geo-changes
and plan accordingly. Satellites play a vital role to fulfill this job. Here we have presented a glimpse of what we
can achieve via satellite imaginary. Below are images, from Landsat 8, of Keysari, Turkey. Which is located on
the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia. Landsat 8 Is the 7th satellite amongst eight other to have been
successfully deployed. Landsat 8 has two sensors namely “land imager”, providing data in bands and “thermal
infrared sensor”, providing data in two bands. Now these and more like these images can be used for multi-
purposes, including strategic planning, disaster control and management, deforestation monitoring etc.
Table of Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Area of Study.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Sensory Details.................................................................................................................................................................3
Landsat 8 images of Keysari, Turkey, of various Bands.......................................................................................................4
Landsat 8 satellite Resolution...............................................................................................................................................6
Spatial Resolution:............................................................................................................................................................6
Radiometric Resolution:....................................................................................................................................................6
Temporal Resolution:........................................................................................................................................................6
Spectral Resolution:..........................................................................................................................................................6
Applications of sensors.........................................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Introduction
Sending satellites into the space mounted with high resolution cameras and sensors was a ground breaking and
giant leap for humanity. To capture images from space a program named “Landsat” was launched which
successfully deployed it’s first satellite Landsat 1 on 1972. The program was a joint venture between NASA and
USGS, initially for Gov. Use. A total of 8 satellite have been launched with only 7 making it into the space. The
latest one is Landsat 8 which was launched in the year 2013. Digital Sensor are mounted on these satellites,
which are updated as the new satellites are launched, which scan large areas of earth and send this data back to
ground stations. Unlike initial stages the data of these satellittes are now available to the public as well, for
economic development and research purposes.

Area of Study
Here we have obtained images, via Landsat 8, of Kayesri, Turkey. The city of Keysari is located at 38⁰44’N
35⁰29’E with an elevation of 12848 ft. which is almost at the center of the country. Kayesri is one of the most
important industrialized cities of turkey.

Sensory Details
The following images of Keysari are obtained via Landsat 8 of the Landsat program, a joint program of NASA
and USGS. The satellite was launched on 11 Feb 2013 through Atlas 5 Rocket. Landsat 8 has two major sensors
providing seasonal coverage of the global landmass at a spatial resolution of 30 meters 100 meters and 15
meters. First one Land imager, which provides data in 9 bands and secondly Thermal Infrared Sensor, provides
data in two bands.

Data provided by Landsat 8 has various characteristics.

i. GeoTIFF data format
ii. Cubic Convolution (CC) resampling
iii. North Up (MAP) orientation
iv. Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) map projection (Polar Stereographic for Antarctica)
v. World Geodetic System (WGS) 84 datum
vi. 12 meter circular error, 90% confidence global accuracy for OLI
vii. 41 meter circular error, 90% confidence global accuracy for TIRS
Landsat 8 images of Keysari, Turkey, of various Bands.

Band 1 Band 2

Band 3 Band 4

Band 5 Band 6
Band 7 Band 8

Band 9 Band 10

Band 11
Landsat 8 satellite Resolution

Spatial Spectral
(m) Description Wavelength (µm) Spectral Band
Band 1 30 Coastal/ Aerosol 0.433-0.453 Operational Land
Imager
Band 2 30 Blue 0.450-0.515 Operational Land
Imager
Band 3 30 Green 0.525-0.600 Operational Land
Imager
Band 4 30 Red 0.630-0.680 Operational Land
Imager
Band 5 30 Near Infrared 0.845-0.885 Operational Land
Imager
Band 6 30 Short wavelength 1.560-1.660 Operational Land
Infrared Imager
Band 7 30 Short wavelength 2.100-2.300 Operational Land
Infrared Imager
Band 8 15 Panchromatic 0.500-0.680 Operational Land
Imager
Band 9 30 Cirrus 1.360-1.390 Operational Land
Imager
Band 10 100 Long wavelength Infrared 10.30-11.30 Thermal Infrared
Sensor

Band 11 100 Long wavelength Infrared 11.50-12.50 Thermal Infrared

Sensor

Spatial Resolution:
The images obtained via Landsat has a spatial resolution of 30 meters (visible, NIR, SWIR); 100 meters
(thermal); and 15 meters (panchromatic).
Radiometric Resolution:
The above images obtained via Landsat 8 has a radiometric resolution of 12-bits, 16-bits when processed into
Level-1 data products.
Temporal Resolution:
Landsat 8 takes about 16 days to revisit and acquire data for exact same location.

Spectral Resolution:
Landsat 8 has 9 spectral bands.
Applications of sensors
The invention of satellites mounted with cameras and digital sensors was a giant leap for mankind. The images
obtained via Landsat 8 or any other satellite has a vast range of application ranging from Strategic Importance
to Public use. Here given below are some of its renowned applications.

 For disaster management and control.

 To monitor deforestation.
 For security purposes.
 Used by universities or students for Research Purposes.
 To monitor urban sprawl.
 During construction and project management.
 To monitor seasonal changes.
 For Regional Planning.
 Used by geologist to monitor volcanic activities.

Conclusion
Landsat 8 data is available for everyone. Images can be obtained for a specific area and studied which has a
wide range of applications. Images obtained from Landsat 8 can be open via ArcMap where they can be edited
and its format can be changed as well. Satellite imaginary has revolutionized Monitoring of our planet and
planning accordingly.