GEOG432/632: Remote Sensing http://gis.unbc.ca/courses/geog-432/syllabus/

GEOG432/632: Remote sensing Fall 2016: UNBC students’ majors Computer Science / Physics Environmental Science Geography Northern Rural Community Planning

What is Remote sensing ? Term 'remote sensing' first appeared in 1960 (Evelyn Pruitt, technician, U.S. Office of Naval Research) ?

"...the collection of information about a surface without direct contact (from a distance) " = … the acquisition and manipulation of planetary images (or something like that …)

Why did RS appear in 1960 ? Advent of : Satellites …e.g. Telstar (1962) use of non-visible energy e.g. infra-red, RADAR - extended beyond conventional aerial photography

Why is remote sensing (maybe) more ‘important’ than GIS. e. g Why is remote sensing (maybe) more ‘important’ than GIS? e.g. in Canada ?

Why is remote sensing (maybe) more ‘important’ than GIS ? Size and remoteness of Canada Much (most?) vector data are outdated Most GIS spatial data are from remote sensing Images can be current / cross boundaries

Value of remote sensing: Can cover large areas (Landsat = 180 x 180km) Not limited by political boundaries Current / recent (versus vector data) Not generalised – shows it like it is …. Especially useful for remote / dynamic areas Especially suitable for Canada etc..

ASTER image, Chapman Glacier, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut

Rondônia, Brazil – 15th August 1991

Rondônia, Brazil - 6th August 2011

Landsat 8: Mt. Robson / Berg Lake, August 26, 2015

NTS 1995? Checking vector information with imagery

1985

2007

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84202 Mount Polley Dam Breach, central BC, August 2014

Geomatics Cartography GIS Remote sensing GPS Surveying RASTER and VECTOR data: For remote sensing, a digital image processing system (software) must be RASTER, but will also have vector capabilities; we use PCI Geomatica VECTOR systems will have raster options, e.g. image display + ArcGIS / QGIS

Evaluation: see webpage http://gis.unbc.ca References: webpages Multiple textbooks available in library: G70.4 .... Evaluation: see webpage http://gis.unbc.ca 50% practical 30% project 10% lab quiz (take home) 10% environmental change exercise 50% written 30% exams (Oct 15, Dec 3) 10% website evaluation 10% article critique

Milestones in the History of Remote Sensing 19th century 1839 Invention of photography use of balloons, kites and pigeons oblique photos (mountain peaks) Stereo photography - http://www.londonstereo.com/ See this webpage: http://www.gisdevelopment.net/technology/rs/techrs26.htm

20th century 1910s First use of aerial photography from planes (World War I: photo interpretation) 1920s Development of photogrammetry for mapping Military use of radar (World War II) -> Main aerial photo programs in Canada and others 1950s Use of colour photography and infra-red Term 'remote sensing' first appeared (Evelyn Pruit) First reconnaissance satellites: Corona First weather satellites: Tiros (1960); Nimbus (1964) (and first digital data transfer)

Multispectral image processing: The Landsat Era Launch of Landsat 1 satellite and the 80metre MultiSpectral Sensor (MSS) Landsat 4: the 'next generation 30metre sensor': Thematic Mapper (TM) [and Landsat 5 in 1984] 1986 SPOT-1 satellite: 10 and 20metre data (France)

1990s 1990s Other countries' satellites / sensors: IRS: India (5 metre) JERS: Japan ERS: Europe RESURS: USSR 1995 Radarsat- Canada's first remote sensing satellite 1999 Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM); - Reduction of data cost removal of data copyright - enabled online data libraries

New millennium events Many new sensors 2000 Terra satellite: ASTER and MODIS data 2000 High resolution private sector satellites: Ikonos (2000) and Quickbird (2001) Worldview launched (2007)- example: Birdnest GeoEye (2008 – 25cm) 2002 SPOT 5: 2.5 or 5 metres panchromatic resolution Online viewers 2005 Online image viewers- e.g. google earth More free image data – what we use for labs 2009 Landsat image data archive goes online 2013: Landsat 8 2014: Sentinel 1 2015: Sentinel 2 2016: Sentinel 3

Links History of Remote Sensing Paul R. Baumann Emeritus Professor of Geography State University of New York College at Oneonta Great Page on History of Aerial Photography