1. ERT 247
SENSOR & PLATFORM

2. Passive vs. active sensing
Remote sensing systems which measure energy that is naturally available are called passive sensors.
Passive sensors can
only be used to detect
energy when the
naturally occurring
energy is available.

3. …cont
For all reflected energy, this can only take place during the time when the sun is
illuminating the Earth.
There is no reflected energy available from the sun at night.
Energy that is naturally emitted (such as thermal infrared) can be detected day or night, as long as the amount of energy
is large enough to be recorded.

4. …cont Active sensors provide their own energy source for illumination.
The sensor emits
radiation which is
directed toward the
target to be investigated.
The radiation reflected
from that target is
detected and measured
by the sensor.

5. …cont
Advantages for active sensors include the ability to obtain measurements anytime, regardless of the time of day or season.
Active sensors can be used for examining wavelengths that are not sufficiently provided by the sun, such as microwaves, or to better control the way a target is illuminated.

6. …cont
However, active systems require the generation of a fairly large amount of energy to adequately illuminate targets.
Some examples of active sensors are a laser fluorosensor and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

7. …cont
Example of passive and active sensors : normal photographic camera.
Under good illumination operating condition, when flash is not used, it behaves as a passive sensor.
When the camera operates under poor illumination condition using a flash, it becomes an active sensor.

8. On the Ground, In the Air, In Space
In order for a sensor to collect and record energy reflected or emitted from a target or surface, it must reside on a stable platform removed from the target or surface being observed.

9. Platforms for remote sensors may be situated:
…cont
Platforms for remote sensors may be situated:
on the ground
on an aircraft or balloon (or some other platform within the Earth's atmosphere),
or on a spacecraft or satellite outside of the Earth's atmosphere.

10. On the ground
Ground-based sensors are often used to record detailed information about the surface which is compared with information collected from aircraft or satellite sensors.
In some cases, this can be used to better characterize the target which is being imaged by these other sensors, making it possible to better understand the information in the imagery.

11. In the air Aircraft or helicopters are example of airborne platform.
It is occasionally used to collect detailed images over virtually any part of the earth.

12. In space
Spaceborne-platforms are satellite launches for remote sensing purposes.
Satellites are objects which revolve around another object - in this case, the Earth.
It provide repetitive coverage of an area under study.
Have wide application in various fields due to their multi-characteristic.

13. …cont
For example, the moon is a natural satellite, whereas man-made satellites include those platforms launched for remote sensing, communication, and telemetry (location and navigation) purposes.
Cost is often a significant factor in choosing among the various platform options.

14. Land observation satellite and sensors
Three (3) major land observation satellite:
LANDSAT series – USA
SPOT – France
IRS – India
These satellites are low altitude satellites
Having altitude of less than 1000 km above the earth’s surface.
Sensors having low spatial resolution and spectral resolution of less than 0.1µm.

15. LANDSAT Satellites LANDSAT-1:
to monitor the earth’s surface.
Initially named as ERTS-1 (Earth Resources Technology Satellite)
Launched by NASA, USA in July 23rd, 1972.
The LANDSAT mission was transferred to NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) in 1983.
Subsequently commercialize in 1985 for providing data to user community.

16. …cont
All LANDSAT satellites have been placed in a near polar Sun-synchronous orbit.
LANDSAT-1 to 3 was placed at an altitude of nearly 900 km with revisit period of 18 days.
LANDSAT-4 to 7 have an altitude of nearly 700 km with revisit period of 16 days.
All LANDSAT satellite have the same equatorial crossing time to optimize the illumination condition.
Aerial coverage scene 185 km x 185 km.

17. …cont Special features: Types of sensors:
A combination of sensors with spectral bands tailored to earth observation.
Functional spatial resolution.
Good aerial coverage.
Types of sensors:
Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) camera system
Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS) system
Thematic Mapper (TM)
Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM)
Enhance Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)

18. LANDSAT Mission Characteristics

19. LANDSAT Satellites and Sensors

20. Sensors on board various LANDSAT mission
Band
Spectral range (µm)
Application
RBV 1
0.475 – 0.575 2
0.580 – 0.680 3
0.090 – 0.830 4
0.505 – 0.750
MSS
0.5 – 0.6
Emphasizes sediment laden water and delineates areas of shallow water
0.6 – 0.7
Emphasizes cultural details
0.7 – 0.8
Emphasizes vegetation boundary between land and water and land forms
0.8 – 1.2
Penetrates atmospheric haze best 5
10.4 – 12.6
Hydrothermal mapping

21. Same as ETM with thermal Band resolution of 60 m
…cont
Sensor
Band
Spectral range (µm)
Application TM 1
0.45 – 0.52
Coastal water mapping; soil/vegetation and coniferous/deciduous differentiations 2
0.52 – 0.60
Green reflection from healthy vegetation 3
0.63 – 0.69
Chlorophyll absorption for plant species differentiation 4
0.76 – 0.90
Biomass surveys; water body delineation 5
1.55 – 1.75
Vegetation and moisture 6
10.4 – 12.5
Hydrothermal mapping 7
2.08 – 2.35
Plant heat stress, thermal mapping
ETM
All TM bands
Same as for TM sensor
PAN
0.50 – 0.90
ETM+
Same as ETM with thermal Band resolution of 60 m
Same as for ETM

22. SPOT Satellite SPOT (Systém Pour L’ Observation de la Terre):
A series of imaging satellites designed and launched by CNES (Centre National d’ Études Spatiales) France.
In collaboration with Sweden and Belgium
Provide Earth observation data
Ushered a new era in remote sensing by introducing linear array sensors having pushbroom scanning facility.

23. …cont
Have pointable optics that enables site-to-site off-nadir view capabilities permitting full scene stereoscopic imaging of the same area.
Useful in:
Terrain interpretation
Mapping
Visual terrain simulation from two different satellite orbital path.

24. …cont
Advantages:
Steerability of the sensor by 27° on either side of the nadir
Allows sensor to view an area a number of times within the 26 days revisit period
Allows sensor to monitor specific locations having dynamic phenomenon
Increase chances of obtaining cloud free scenes
Reduced revisit frequency to a time interval of 3 days making possible viewing of an area 7 times during the revisit period of the satellite.
If the latitudes close to 40° to 45°, an area can be imaged 11 times during the same revisit period.

25. SPOT – 1, 2 and 3 satellites Orbital characteristics
Sensor characteristics
Orbit
Near polar sun synchronous
HRV (Visible High-Resolution)
Altitude
822 km
Inclination
98°
Mode
Band
Spectral range (m)
Resolution
Orbital period
101 minutes
XS-Multispectral
XS1
0.50 – 0.59
20 m
Equator crossing time
10:30 A.M. LST
XS2
0.61 – 0.68
Repeat cycle
26 days
XS3
0.79 – 0.89
Swath width
117 km (60 km per HRV, 3 km overlap) P
PAN
0.51 – 0.73
10 m

26. SPOT – 4 orbital sensor characteristics
Orbital characteristics
Sensor characteristics
Orbit
Near polar sun synchronous
HRVIS
Altitude
830 km
Inclination
98°
Mode
Band
Spectral range (m)
Resolution
Orbital period
101 minutes
Multispectral B1
0.50 – 0.59
20 m
Equator crossing time
10:30 A.M. LST B2
0.61 – 0.68 B3
0.79 – 0.89
Repeat cycle
26 days B4
1.58 – 1.75
10 m
Swath width
117 km (80 km per HRV, 3 km overlap)
Monospectral
PAN
VEGETATION B0
0.43 – 0.47
1165 m
MIR

27. SPOT – 5 orbital sensor characteristics
Orbital characteristics
Sensor characteristics
Orbit
Near polar sun synchronous
HRG (High-Resolution Geometric)
Altitude
832 km
Inclination
98°
Mode
Band
Spectral range (m)
Resolution
Orbital period
101 minutes
Multispectral B1
0.50 – 0.59
10 m
Equator crossing time
10:30 A.M. LST B2
0.61 – 0.68 B3
0.79 – 0.89
Repeat cycle
26 days
SWIR
1.58 – 1.75
20 m
Swath width
117 km (80 km per HRV, 3 km overlap)
Mono-spectral
PAN
0.51 – 0.73
5 m, 2.5 m
HRS (High Resolution Stereoscopic)
VEGETATION same as in SPOT - 4