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TP-IMD-02 v0 For GEng138 Lesson 1.2
TP-IMD-02 v0 For GEng138 Lesson 1.2
Remote Sensing
Module Overview
The module introduces the concepts and scientific principles of remote sensing,
including its milestone of history, typology, applications, usefulness and limitations
of several sensing systems. Likewise, the concepts of spectral reflectance and
spectral signature of major landcover classes are introduce as well as it is seen as
an important foundation in the succeeding modules.
Motivation Question
What remote sensing can help us do?
Lesson Summary
Remote sensing system can be categorized in terms of its energy source and
wavelength where it operates. In terms of energy source, remote sensing are
classified as active and passive; while optical, thermal, and microwave are three
types of remote sensing in terms of wavelengths.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• Explain the difference and similarities of remote sensing types in terms of
characteristics (i.e., by energy source and wavelengths).
• Explain the difference and similarities of remote sensing types in terms of
characteristics (i.e., by energy source and wavelengths).
• Explain the different types of image resolution
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Discussions
By energy source
1. Passive remote sensing. It depends mainly on the sun as the source of
illumination. In general, most of the earth imaging sensing systems are
passive that operates in Visible (V), Infrared (IF), thermal infrared (TIR), and
Microwave regions
2. Active remote sensing. It has its own source of illumination. The sensor emits
its own energy hence, day and night acquisition are possible.
(a) (b)
Figure 1 Passive (a) and active (b) remote sensing
Table 1 Strengths and limitations of active and passive remote sensing system
Source: https://seos-project.eu/
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
By wavelengths
1. Visible and reflective infrared remote sensing. It operates in V and IR regions
with sun as the source of energy and that the object reflects. The sun radiates
electromagnetic energy with a peak wavelength of 0.5 μm (Figure 2).
2. Thermal infrared remote sensing. It operates in TIR region with the object
itself as the source of radiant energy. Unlike visible and reflective sensing
systems, the object emits. Any object with a normal temperature will emits
electromagnetic energy with a peak of about 10 μm (Figure 2).
Spatial resolution
It refers to the smallest size of an object or detail that can be represented in an image
and is related to the instantaneous field of view (IFOV) of the system and its altitude
(Figure 3).
Figure 3 Relationship of ground resolution (D), and sensor's IFOV & altitude
𝐷 = ꞵ𝐻 Eq. 1
Where:
D is the approximate spatial resolution
IFOV is Instantaneous Field of View, in radians
H is the altitude of the sensing system
Example: For a sensor with angular field of view of 2 milliradians and a flying altitude
of 5km, what is the approximate spatial resolution in meters? (Answer: ~10m)
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Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Figure 4 Illustration of different spatial resolution and output display
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Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
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and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Figure 6 Imagery of VSU 10-m and 2-m resolution
Rule of thumb
The nominal spatial resolution of the remote sensing system should be less than
one-half the size of the feature measured in its smallest dimension (Jensen, 2015).
Suppose, the location of all coconut trees must be identified in the image, hence, the
minimum acceptable spatial resolution would be approximately one-half the
diameter of the smallest coconut tree’s crown.
Spectral resolution
The number and size of wavelength (regions) that the sensor is capable of detecting.
One EM region represent one band or channel (Figure 8).
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Figure 8 Illustration of spectral bands
Radiometric resolution
Radiometric resolution is defined as the sensitivity of a sensor to differences in signal
strength as it records the radiant flux reflected, emitted, or back-scattered from the
terrain (Jensen, 2015). In other words, it is the sensor’s ability to differentiate among
subtle changes in brightness (Lillesand et al., 2015). Imagine, if you want to measure
a line up to millimeter level, would you use a measuring tool that is calibrated at 1-
meter? This analogy reflects when choosing radiometric resolution for a project.
Figure 9 is self-explanatory of radiometric resolution.
Radiometric resolution is measured in bit per pixel. Example, a 1-bit image (21) has
two levels of color, that is, black and white; a 2-bit image (22) has four levels from
pure black to pure white with two gray levels in between. It also represents the depth
of pixel values (digital numbers), that is, 1-bit has pixel values of 0 (black) and 1
(white), and values of 0 (black) to 255 (white) are present in an 8-bit image (Figure
9).
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Figure 9 Image at different radiometric resolutions
Source: https://crisp.nus.edu.sg/~research/tutorial/image.htm
Temporal resolution
The temporal resolution of a remote sensing system generally refers to how often
and when the sensor records imagery of a specific location. Example, if a sensing
system captures image every 24 hours, then its temporal resolution is 24 hours,
likewise, a 16-day revisit sensing system captures image of the area every 16 days.
Most satellite-based sensing systems that are high temporal resolutions are low
spatial resolution because, highly temporal resolution systems have narrower swath
width than lower temporal systems (Figure 10 and Figure 11).
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Figure 10 Illustration of swath width (shaded portion) of sensing system
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Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
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and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Common Remote Sensing Systems
There are several spaced-based remotes sensing systems that are currently
operational. Below are few of them and most importantly, access to data is free of
charge.
1. Landsat. It is the first earth-observing satellite launched with the intent study and
monitor the planet’s land resources. It is the only U.S. satellite system designed
and operated to repeatedly observe the land surface at global scale (NASA,
2021). Landsat 1 was launched in 1972, after such successful mission, it also
launched series of missions, that is, from Landsat 2 to Landsat 8, though Landsat
6 failed to reach its orbit. Landsat 9 is scheduled to be launched in September
2021 (NASA, 2021). It is a joint program between National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) and United States Geological Survey (USGS).
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
Table 2 Summary of characteristics of Landsat Series
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
System Launch Instrument/ Spatial Spectral Temporal
Date Sensor Res. (m) Res. (bands) Res. (day)
Learning Task/Activities
1. Read pages 10-23 of Introductory Digital Image Processing A Remote
Sensing Perspective (4th Edition) by John R. Jensen
2. Answer: In every research project, state the importance of knowing the
following characteristics of remote sensing systems:
a. (5) spectral resolution (2-3 sentences)
b. (5) spatial resolution (2-3 sentences)
c. (5) temporal resolution (2-3 sentences)
d. (5) spectral characteristics (2-3 sentences)
3. Suppose you have the following projects, identify which particular remote
sensing systems (one or more) to you will use, and state the reason(s):
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
a. (5) Monitoring the growth of sugarcane (from planting to harvesting)
of at least 5-has area.
b. (5) Counting the number of pine tress
c. (5) Land cover mapping in 1980-2020
d. (5) Monitoring the land surface temperature from 1970 to present of
the Philippines.
Assessment
(To be posted in VSU E-learning portal.)
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.