REMOTE SENSING

Remote Sensing Systems for

Earth Observation & Imaging
Antoni Broquetas
broquetas@tsc.upc.edu
Department of Signal Theory and Communications
School of Telecommunications Engineering of Barcelona (ETSETB)
Technical University of Catalonia, Campus Nord
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REMOTE SENSING
1. Introduction and Space Platforms
2. Space Missions: Types of Orbits
3. Mapping projections and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
4. RADAR Sensors
5. Optical and Infrared Sensors. Lidars
6. Microwave Radiometers
7. Image Characteristics and Post-processing
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 REMOTE SENSING
Basic Bibliography
Fortescue, Stark, Swiner (Eds.) Spacecraft systems engineering, John Wiley, 2003
Elachi and vanZyl, Introduction to the Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing, 2nd edition, John Wiley,
2006
Szequielda, K.H. Satellite Monitoring of the Earth, John Wiley, 1988.
Ulaby, Moore, Funk, Microwave remote sensing, active and passive, Vols. I, II, III, Addison Wesley 1981, 1982
and 1986
Schott, John R. Remote sensing : the image chain approach. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-19-
508726-7.
Complementary Bibliography
Curlander, McDonough, Synthetic Aperture Radar, John Wiley, 1991
Raymond M. Measures: "Laser Remote Sensing. Fundamentals and Applications".
John Wiley & Sons, 1984. (Reprint de 1992 per Krieger Publishing Company).
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Introduction and Space Platforms
1. Introduction and Space Platforms
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
REMOTE SENSING:
Set of techniques to gather data and information about the
physical world by detecting and measuring radiation associated
to objects located beyond the immediate vicinity of the sensors
TYPES OF WAVES:
Electromagnetic (EM) waves
Acoustic waves
Gravity field
Magnetic Field
EM Radiation: Radio, Microwave, IR, Visible, UV, X-ray, -ray, etc
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Introduction and Space Platforms
Atmospheric transmission spectral curve
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
The EM radiation spectrum
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Introduction and Space Platforms
The added value chain of Remote Sensing:
Activity
Sensors Distrib. Parameter
Operator Reconstruct. Services Extraction
Calibration
Users
(Satellite, Acces Services
airplane) Storage Control
Telemetry Images Maps
Data Information Knowledge Decisions
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
PLATFORMS
AIRPLANE SATELLITE
Regional coverage Global coverage
Flexible Rigid
Low cost of development High cost of development
High cost of exploitation Low cost of exploitation
Altitude: 1 - 15 km Altitude 300 - 36000 km
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Introduction and Space Platforms
PHASES OF A SPACE MISION
Phase A: Feasibility study (8 to 12 months)
Phase B: Detailed Definition (12 to 18 months)
Phase C/D: Development, Manufacture, Integration/Test (3 to 5 y)
Phase E: Launch Campaign
- Pre-launch
prep. ignition, separation umbilical cables
- Launch: ignition, continuation, separation of different phases
- Orbit transfer: launch orbit to operational orbit
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
PHASES OF A SPACE MISION (2)
Phase F: Mission Operations
- Commissioning phase: pull payload out, verification
- Mission operations:
attitude, repositioning, orbital manouvers
fuel limitation -> satellite life
- Decommissioning phase:
GEO impulse to superior orbit
LEO controlled re-entry
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Introduction and Space Platforms
NECESSARY EXPERTISES
Propulsion, launch and re-entry
Orbital analysis, navigation, attitude control and manouvers
Structures and materials
Thermal and radiation control
Sensor development
Telecommunications
Signal Processing
Mechanisms
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Production and energy storage
Simulation
Project management, data distribution, etc.
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
A space mission consists of:
- Launcher (transports satellite from ground to space)
- Space segment (spacecraft)
- Ground segment (ground station and mission control)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
1. ESA LAUNCHERS: 5G ECA ES ATV
ARIANE 4 ARIANE 5 VEGA
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
2. RUSSIAN LAUNCHERS:
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Introduction and Space Platforms
ATLAS-CENTAUR
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
PROPULSION SYSTEM
Classification of propulsion systems
Photon Rockets Solar sail
Thermal Electric Nuclear
Chemical Electrothermal Radioisotope
Solid (missiles, ABM) Resistojet
Explosion
Liquid (Arinae) Arcjet
Nuclear Electromagnetic (plasma)
Solar Electrostatic
Ion
Laser
From [Spacecraft System Engineering, 2003] Colloid (aerosol paricles)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
PROPULSION SYSTEM
LIQUID FUEL ROCKETS
ARIANE 4 18
 Introduction and Space Platforms
PROPULSION SYSTEM
Rocket equation (Tsiolkovsky equation)
M tb F
Mf 0 M
V = Ve * ln 0 + ext
dt
The speed change depends on the effective
exhaust velocity Ve = Isp g (g0 is the std. Gravity)
*
0
and the mass ratio M0 /Mf (initial to final)
Specific impulse Isp depends on propellant type
Optimum number of stages: 2 or 3 (> 3 no improvement)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
PAYLOAD STORAGE
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
MICROSATELLITES
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Introduction and Space Platforms
2. SATELLITE SUBSYSTEMS:
2.1. ATTITUDE CONTROL (AOCS):
SATELLITE STABILIZATION
- Without Momentum Bias (3-axis stabilized)
- With Momentum Bias:
- Spinner
- Hybrid: Partially de-spun
3-axis stabilized with momentum bias
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
SATELLITE STABILIZED BY ROTATION (spinner)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
SATELLITE WITH HIBRID STABILIZATION
(partial de-spun)
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
3 AXES SATELLITE STABILIZATION
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Introduction and Space Platforms
ATTITUDE CONTROL:
External torquers:
- Gas jets
- Magnetic
- Gravity gradient (vertically aligned cigar-like spacecrafts, eg SeaSat)
- Solar radiation (sails)
Internal torquers:
- Reaction wheels (continuous fine pointing)
- Momentum wheels (store momentum bias)
- Control moment gyroscope (ok 3 axis stabilization)
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
ATTITUDE CONTROL:
Momentum Wheels (store angular momentum by spinning)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
ATTITUDE CONTROL
Magnetic bars (torques): aling with Earths magnetic field
OK for LEOs
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
ATTITUDE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS :
From [Spacecraft System Engineering, 2003]
- Stars 1 arc second
- Sun 1 arc minute
- Earth horizon 6 arc minute Star tracker
- RF beacon 1 arc minute
- Magnetometer 30 arc minutes
- GPS 6 arc minutes
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Introduction and Space Platforms
GIOTTO SPACESHIP
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
2.2. MECHANISMS:
Unfolded solar panels
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Introduction and Space Platforms
MECHANISMS:
Umbrella antenna
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
MECHANISMS
AUTODEPLOYED
MAST
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Introduction and Space Platforms
Other spacecraft subsystems:
2.3. SPACECRAFT STRUCTURES
2.4. ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM:
AsGa (MIR & Iridium) vs Si (the rest) solar panels
2.5. THERMAL CONTROL
2.6. TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2.7. TELEMETRY, COMMAND, DATA HANDLING
AND PROCESSING
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Example:
From Earth to Space: Injection into GEO
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Introduction and Space Platforms
3. GROUND SEGMENT: Chilton (UK) 12m Diameter
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Applications (i):Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
Azimuth direction
Slant range direction
Orbit

Swath
Satellite track
Antenna
footprint
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Introduction and Space Platforms
Results over large areas
100 x 100 Km SAR amplitude image
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Use of the coherence channel
R: Coh.
G: Amp.
B: Amp.
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Introduction and Space Platforms
100 x 100 km ERS Tandem Interferogram and coherence
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Map of
Austria (East)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
Radar Map of Austria (East)
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
The Capitol (Washington DC)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
CCRS SAR Oxford County
C band SAR composite image was created from HH and
HV data, collected October 18, 1991.
Field (B) is a permanent pasture,
C (A) indicates a field of corn
stubble in which no-tillage
considered a good conservation
pratice.
cultivation has been
implemented.
A
B D
Field (D) is a conventional tillage field
The corn stubble field (C) is a and has a higher radar backscatter
reduced tillage field. due to the surface roughness of the
field.
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
FORESTRY APPLICATIONS
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Introduction and Space Platforms
GEOLOGY
North shore of Lake
Superior, July 1991.
wide swath mode
displays 63km across
the range
look direction to the
south.
The near edge of the
image, at the top, is at
45 and the far edge is
at 85 incidence angle
respectively.
The wide range of
shallow viewing angles
is ideal for enhancing
subtle terrain features
which can be on the
order of 2m in height.
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Applications (ii):Optical and IR Sensors
The AVHRR: Applications
Band number spectral range NOAA 7, 9, IFOV Application
NOAA 6, 8, 10 11,12,14 (mrad)
1 0.58-0.68 m 0.58-0.68 m 1.39 Cloud cover mapping (day time), surface mapping
2 0.725-1.05 m 0.725-1.05 m 1.41 Water surface delineation, ice/show melt...
3 3.55-3.92 m 3.55-3.92 m 1.51 Sea surface temperature, cloud mapping (night time)
4 10.50-11.50 m 10.3-11.3 m 1.41 Sea surface temperature, cloud mapping (day and night time)
5 repeated 11.5-12.5 m 1.30 Sea surface temperature, cloud mapping (day and night time)
Cloud cover Sea surface temperature Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
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Introduction and Space Platforms
The AVHRR: Applications
Fire detection:
1) identification of potential fire
pixels by thresholds applied to pixel
data and
2) elimination of false signal by a
spatial heterogeneity test.
The algorithm includes the addition of a
channel 3 - channel 4 threshold for the
screening of hot surfaces, spatial hetero
geneity test for channel 3 brightness
temperature and sun glint test.
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
LANDSAT TM: Image classification
Pair of images collected on two different dates: 19 April 1992 and 20 June 1997.
Landsat TM
2-3-4 False Color Composite
Laughlin, Nevada Area 49
Introduction and Space Platforms
Applications (iii): Microwave Radiometers
Rain rate Snow coverage
Data (F-14): 29/9/1997 Data (F-14): 29/9/1997
(Processed by NOAA) (Processed by NOAA)
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Water vapor Wind speed
Data (F-13): 30/9/1997, 6:06 h GMT Data (F-13): 30/9/1997, 12:08 h GMT
(Processed by NOAA) (Processed by NOAA)
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Introduction and Space Platforms
Seasonal variation of the ice cover in polar regions
Artic Ocean Antartic Ocean
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
In-House Developments for SAR Systems
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UPCs Ground-Based SAR and
Introduction Sensor
Space Platforms
RX Antennas
TX Antennas
POL-InSAR
Antennas
(Bistatic
Configuration)
24 cm UPC GB-SAR Sensor Parameters
f0 (X-Band) 9.65 GHz
80 cm PRF 20 KHz
Chirp Bandwidth 60-150 MHz
Base-Band Bw. 20 MHz
A/D Sampling Rate 82 Ms/sec
Transmitted Power 27dBm
POL-SAR Pyramidal Horns
Antennas Gain 15 dB
3dB Beamwidth 30
Polarization HH/HV/VH/VV
Rail = 25 m
Rail Min. Disp. 100m
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 SAR:Imaging by scattered field
Introduction and processing
Space Platforms
Sallent Radar Monitoring
Introduction
GB-SAR Applications and SpaceMonitoring
: Subsidence Platforms
HH & VV
cm/y

Amplitude- and phase-based criteria for
reference pixels.

CPT technique for reliable pixels
selection.
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
94 GHz Total Power Radiometer
Spatial resolution: 35mm
Radiometric resolution: 0.3 K (70ms integration time)
Integration time per pixel: Adjustable (1ms-500ms)
Scanning time: 7 minutes (100x50 pixels image)
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Outdoor passive and
Introduction standoff imaging
Space Platforms
Optical mmW
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Synthetic Aperture Radiometry
Passive imaging system demonstrator
Introduction and Space (50 GHz)
Platforms
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 Introduction and Space Platforms
Imaging by radiated field interferometry
New Mexico VLBI Cygnus radiosource structure
Introduction and Space Platforms
X-Ray Tomography
First prototype Fan-Beam scanner
 Introduction and Space Platforms
Microwave Tomography

f = 2.33 GHz
64 antennas (TE10 waveguides opened on a
cylindrical E-plane exponential taper)
Water as embedding medium (high losses)
S/N ~ 20 dB with 1 W
Successful Measurements of biological
tissues.
Human Arms, hands and legs
Scaled Phantoms simulating systems working
at other frequencies
Tomographic Image of a Human Arm
Re[Contrast] Im[Contrast ]
10 10
20 20
30 30
40 40
50 50
10 20 30 40 50 10 20 30 40 50
UPC: 1st Microwave Circular Scanner
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0 0. 1 0. 2 0.3
The Imaging Proces
Introduction and Space Platforms
Radiated (Scattered) Field
Object E (r ' ) Image
(r ' ) (r )

Reconstruction
Aperture

Receiver

Image
Direct Inverse
Problem Problem
(r ' ) E (r ' ) (r )
 Imaging Sensor Characterisation (1)Space Platforms
Introduction and
Radiated (Scattered) Field
Point Object Point Spread Function (PSF)
(r ' ) E (r ' )
(r )
Reconstruction
Aperture

Receiver

Image

(r ' )
MIRS
Imaging SensorIntroduction
Characterisation (2)
and Space Platforms
PSF (r )
Spatial resolution -3dB
PSLR (dB)
a
a
2
PSLR: Peak Sidelobes Ratio
ISLR: Integrated Sidelobes Ratio
(r )
0
dr
ISLR(1D ) =
2
(r )
a
dr
 Space(m) Frequency(Rad/m)
IntroductionFourier
and SpaceTransforms
Platforms
Time (t) and Pulsation () FT

S ( ) = s (t )e jt
dt s(t ) = 1
2 S ( )e
jt
d

Space (x) and Spatial frequency (x) FT

( x ) = ( x ) e j x x
dx ( x) = 1
2 ( x )e j x x d x

Multidimensional Space (x) and Spatial frequency (x) FT

(
j x x + y y ) (
+ j x x + y y )
( x , y ) = ( x, y ) e dx dy ( x, y ) = (21 ) 2 ( , x y )e d x d y

F ( ) = f ( r ) e j r dr f (r ) = 1
( 2 )N F ( )e
+ j r
d ; N : dimension
Introduction and Space Platforms
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