Subject objectives
This course is intended to introduce students to the characteristics of remotely sensed imagery and the main techniques available for their processing. After successfully passing this course, students should be able to:
Know the main satellite platforms and their sensors.
Be familiar with the characteristics of remotely sensed imagery.
Use digital image processing techniques like automatic and semi-automatic classification, rectification and orthorectification, use of spectral indexes.
Contents
Basic contents included in the programme documentation:
Fundamentals and physical principles of remote sensing.
Correction of remotely sensed imagery.
Information extraction: classification and spectral indexes.
Quality assessment.
These basic contents are developed along the course duration following the following structure of theoretical lessons:
Unit 1. Introduction. Physical principles of remote sensing (2 hours of in-situ work in classroom + 3 hours of personal work by the student).
Unit 2. Platforms, sensors and associated images. The Copernicus programme (1.5 h + 4 h).
Unit 3. Image correction levels (1.5 h + 4 h).
Unit 4. Data processing I: spectral indexes (1.5 h + 4 h).
Unit 5. Data processing II: classification (1.5 h + 4 h).
Unit 6. LiDAR data processing (1 h + 4 h).
And the following list of practical sessions in IT classroom:
Session 1 - Basics of manipulation of Copernicus programme products (2.5 hours of in-situ work in classroom + 3 hours of personal work by the student).
Session 2 - Spectral indexes (3.5 h + 3 h).
Session 3 - Classification (4 h + 3 h).
Session 4 - LiDAR data processing (2h + 3 h).
Basic and complementary bibliography
Basic bibliography
Chuvieco Salinero, Emilio, 2008. Teledetección ambiental : la observación de la Tierra desde el espacio. Ariel.
Liu, J.G., Philippa J. Mason, 2016. Image Processing and GIS for Remote Sensing: Techniques and Applications, Second Edition. Wiley/Blackwell.
Wegmann, M., Benjamin Leutner, Stefan Dech (eds.), 2016. Remote sensing and GIS for ecologists : using open source software. Pelagic Publishing.
Complementary bibliography
Chuvieco, E., Alfredo Huete, 2010. Fundamentals of satellite remote sensing. Taylor & Francis.
Jensen, John R., 2014. Remote sensing of the environment : an earth resource perspective. Pearson Education.
Richards, John A., 2013. Remote sensing digital image analysis : an introduction. Springer.
Thenkabail, P.S, John G. Lyon, Alfredo Huete (Eds.), 2019. Hyperspectral indices and image classifications for agriculture and vegetation. CRC Press.
Competencies
General and basic competences
CG01 - Capacity to search and select the information that is useful to resolve complex problems, handling fluently the bibliographic sources and the available statistics.
CG02 - Capacity to apply the theoretical knowledge to address research problems in the field of the geographic and territorial analysis.
CG03 - Capacity of acquire pertinent geographical information from different sources and integrate it in geospatial databases.
CG04 - Capacity to schedule and carry out research activities in the field of the studies and territorial analyses.
CB7 - To know how to apply the acquired knowledges and to address problems in new contexts, or in less known contexts inside extended (or multidisciplinary) ones, that are related with his area of study.
CB8 - To be able to integrate knowledges and confront to the complexity to make judgements from an information that, being incomplete or limited, includes aspects from the social and ethical responsibilities.
CB9 - To know how to communicate his conclusions, together with their rationales, to both specialists and no specialist in a clear way.
CB10 - To possess the skills of learning that allow students to continue studying in an autonomous way.
Transversal competences
CT01 - Capacity of researching and selecting information.
CT04 - Knowledge of the main cartographic sources and of territorial information.
CT05 - Handling the main software of Geographic Information Systems.
Specific competences
CE05 - Training to extract, analyse and present the necessary information for taking decisions at planning, territorial and environmental management.
CE09 - Capacity for the design of politics of planning and land use management, as well as of property management.
Teaching methodology
Theoretical lectures (competences CG02, CG04, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CT04, CE09)
Practical sessions (competences CG01, CG03, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CT01, CT04, CT05, CE05, CE09)
In order to adapt teaching to the different scenarios contemplated by the USC Covid19 Directive (Directrices para o Desenvolvemento dunha Docencia Presencial Segura) teaching will proceed as follows:
Scenario 1 (adapted normality): all lectures will take place in classroom (face-to-face).
Scenario 2 (distancing): theoretical lectures will be held via videoconference, practical sessions will be held in classrooms.
Scenario 3 (closing): all lectures will be held via videoconference.
Official schedule will be followed in all scenarios. Also, theoretical and practical sessions will be complemented by:
Use of the virtual campus (Moodle).
Practical cases and projects.
Individualized and group tutoring.
Autonomous study.
Evaluation of competence.
Evaluation system
Assessment of students’ performance will be based on two components:
Participation by the student in the course (master classes, forum, etc): 10% of the final mark.
Continuous assessment, based on practical assignments along the duration of the course (1st opportunity), or practical test (2nd opportunity). 50% of final mark. Competences CG01, CG03, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CT01, CT04, CT05, CE05, CE09.
Written test. 40% of final mark. Competences CG02, CG04, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CT04, CE09.
Students are required to achieve a minimum of 4 points (out of 10) in each component and a minimum of 5 points (out of 10) overall to receive a passing grade. A passing grade in one of the components will be retained, at most, for the following academic year.
Written and practical tests will be held in classroom in scenario 1 (adapted normality) and via virtual campus in Scenarios 2 and 3. Continuous assessment will take place via virtual campus in any scenario.
Students exempt of attendance to classes will follow the same assessment system.
The USC Normative for Assessment of Academic Performance will be automatically applied if fraud or fabrication of assessment materials is detected.
Studying time and personal work
This course includes 9 hours of theoretical lectures, 12 hours of practical lectures, and implies around 54 hours of personal work.
With regard to the 54 hours of personal work, 35 of them correspond to the study effort that is associated to the master classes and the practical classes. The rest of them correspond to the participation in the course forum, raising of questions, preparation of the exam, and any evaluation activity by the student.
Subject study recommendations
It is advisable that students have access to a personal computer in order to install the software applications used in class.
Observations
Contingency plan: This guide includes provision of measures to adapt teaching to distancing scenarios: In case to apply the Scenario 2 (distancing), the whole of the evaluation will take place through the virtual campus. In case to apply the Scenario 3 (closing), in addition, the whole of the teaching will be performed online. The teaching (face-to-face or by videoconference) will be complemented, in any one of the stages, by the tools and available resources in the virtual campus.
