REMOTE SENSING

SGU 3643
LECTURE 4

Spatial Resolution
Pixel size varies according to the type of
sensor recording the data.
Pixel size is used to determine resolution
quality.
Spatial resolution is a measure of the
smallest object that can be resolved
by the sensor, or the size of the area on
the ground represented by each pixel.

Spatial Resolution
If this mock scene were imaged by two
different sensors with different spatial
resolution, then the sensor with the
coarser resolution would display fewer
distinguishable features.
High resolution imagery provides for
better distinguishing of features, but
also requires greater data storage
capacity for the same amount of area.

Bands or Layers
Every image is composed of bands or layers.
Each band is a set of data file values for a specific portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum of reflected light or emitted heat.

Bands or Layers
Every band is viewable
as a separate image.
Each band provides
greater insight as to the
composition of the
imaged area.

Spectral Resolution
Each band records a
specific portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
Spectral resolution refers to
the specific wavelength
intervals in the
electromagnetic spectrum
that a sensor can record.
Narrower bands have higher
spectral resolution.

Radiometric Resolution
The radiometric resolution
of an imaging system
describes its ability to
discriminate very slight
differences in energy The
finer the radiometric
resolution of a sensor, the
more sensitive it is to
detecting small differences
in reflected or emitted
energy

Temporal Resolution
Each satellite has its own unique
revisit schedule for obtaining
imagery of a particular area.
The frequency at which the sensor
revisits an area is known as
temporal resolution.
For example, if a satellite imaged
the same area every ten days,
then its temporal resolution would
be ten days.
Temporal resolution is an
important factor to consider in
change detection studies.

Remotely Sensed Images

There are two types of
remotely sensed images:
Panchromatic
-Panchromatic imagery is
single-band or monochrome
imagery.
Multispectral
- Multispectral imagery is
imagery with data recorded
in two or more bands.

Multispectral Images
Within multispectral images,
each band is viewable as a
separate image.
Three bands are viewable
simultaneously. One band is
assigned to each monitor
color gun and the result is a
color image.
The adjacent diagram
displays a True Color
Composite image. This
means that the red band is
displayed with the red color
gun, and so on.

Multispectral Images (contd)

The adjacent diagram displays a
Near Infrared (NIR) Composite
image.
In this diagram, the green band is
displayed by the blue color gun,
the red band is displayed by the
green color gun, and the near
infrared band is displayed by the
red color gun.
This type of image is excellent for
detecting vegetation within an
area, due to the fact that
vegetation has a high reflectance
in the near infrared (NIR).

Types of Images
There are two types of images:
Continuous
Continuous data is a
type of raster data that is
quantitative and has related,
continuous values.
Thematic
Thematic data is a type of
raster data that is qualitative and
categorical.

Aerial Photography
Aerial platforms are primarily
stable wing aircraft. Aircraft are
often used to collect very
detailed images and facilitate
the collection of data over
virtually any portion of the
Earth's surface at any time.
The scale and quality of the
data collected is affected by
several factors including, but
not limited to, altitude of the
aircraft, position of the plane,
and the quality of the
photographic equipment used.

Cameras
Cameras view an
area on the ground
and after the light
passes through the
lens it is recorded
onto the exposure
plane.

Cameras
The area captured by the camera is
affected by the:
Focal length of the lens
Platform altitude
Format and size of the film
Focal length is the distance from
the center of the lens to the
exposure plane. The longer the
focal length, the smaller the area
on the ground that is recorded, but
the result is a more detailed
photograph.

Cameras
Cameras use light sensitive
film which records UV,
Visible and Near Infrared
wavelengths.
Three types of images are
possible:
Black & White

True Color
Color IR or False Color

Cameras
Camera Angles
When the camera is pointed
directly at the ground, a
vertical photo is taken, thus
reducing distortion. Vertical
photos are used when high
resolution is required.
When the camera is pointed to
the side of the aircraft, an
oblique photo is taken. Oblique
photos contain more distortion,
however they are good for
visualizing height differences.

Satellite Imagery
There are two types of sensors:

Passive
Passive sensors record EMR that
originates from the sun and is
reflected off of the objects it
encounters

Active
Active sensors provide their own
energy source and record the
reflected response as it interacts
with various objects.

Examples of Sensors
Examples of Passive
Sensors:
Landsat MSS & TM
SPOT
IKONOS
Examples of Active Sensors:

Radar
Sonar

Passive Sensors
Multispectral Scanning
Many electronic (as opposed to photographic) remote sensors
acquire data using scanning systems, which employ a sensor with a
narrow field of view (i.e. IFOV) that sweeps over the terrain to
build up and produce a two-dimensional image of the surface.
A scanning system used to collect data over a variety of different
wavelength ranges is called amultispectral scanner (MSS)
There are two main modes or methods of scanning employed to
acquire multispectral image data - across-track scanning, andalongtrack scanning.

Multispectral Scanning
Across-track scanning
Rotating mirror (A).
A bank of internal detectors (B)
The IFOV (C) of the sensor and the altitude of the platform
determine the ground resolution cell viewed (D), and thus
the spatial resolution.The angular field of view (E) is the
sweep of the mirror,
measured in degrees, used to record a scan line, and
determines the width of the imaged swath (F).

Multispectral Scanning
Along-track scanning
Each line is scanned from one side of
the sensor to the other, using a rotating
mirror (A).
A bank of internal detectors (B), each
sensitive to a specific range of
wavelengths, detects and measures the
energy for each spectral band
The IFOV (C) of the sensor and the
altitude of the platform determine the
ground resolution cell viewed (D), and
thus the spatial resolution. The angular
field of view (E) is the sweep of the
mirror, measured in degrees, used to
record ascan line, and determines the
width of the imaged swath (F).

Passive Sensors
Landsat MSS (Multispectral
Scanner) - 1972
Spatial Resolution:
56m x 79m
Spectral Resolution:
4 Bands
Temporal Resolution:
16 days
Swath:
185 km

Passive Sensors
Landsat TM (Thematic
Mapper)- 1982

Spatial Resolution:
30m x 30m
Spectral Resolution:
7 Bands
Temporal Resolution:
16 days
Swath:
185 km

Passive Sensors
SPOT Panchromatic - 1986

Spatial Resolution:
10m x 10m
Spectral Resolution:
1 Band
Temporal Resolution:
26 days
Swath:
60 km

Passive Sensors
SPOT XS (Multispectral) -1986
Spatial Resolution:
20m x 20m
Spectral Resolution:
3 Bands
Temporal Resolution:
26 days
Swath:
60 km

Passive Sensors
IKONOS Panchromatic - 1999

Spatial Resolution:
1m x 1m
Spectral Resolution:
1 Band
Temporal Resolution:
3 days
Swath:
11 km

Passive Sensors
IKONOS Multispectral - 1999
Spatial Resolution:
4m x 4m
Spectral Resolution:
4 Bands
Temporal Resolution:
3 days
Swath:
11 km

Active Sensors
Radar
Radar data are produced when a
radar transmitter emits a beam of
micro or millimeter waves, the
waves reflect from the surfaces they
strike, and the backscattered
radiation is detected by the radars
systems receiving antenna, which
is tuned to the frequency of the
transmitted waves.
Radar microwaves can penetrate
the atmosphere day or night under
virtually all weather conditions,
providing data even in the presence
of haze, light rain, snow, clouds, or
smoke.