ADVANCED REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS FOR ENVIRONMENT (6 credits)

Teachers: Prof. L. BRUZZONE, Prof. M. CORADINI

This course provides advanced knowledge and design capabilities in the framework of systems
based on remote sensing satellites, airborne and UAV sensors, in-situ (ground) measurement
devices, and ancillary data for environmental monitoring, civil protection, infrastructure monitoring
and remote surveillance. It analyzes the main advanced technologies necessary for the definition
of the above-mentioned systems and present in the architectures and the techniques to be used
for the design of these systems for different applications.
The programme of the course is conceptually organized into two main parts. The first part
(chapters 1-4) addresses advanced methodologies, technologies and techniques that are
fundamental for the design of the above-mentioned systems with the last generation sensors. The
second part (chapter 5) describes the design and implementation of systems for different
applications and operative scenarios, including the design criteria for the choice of the sensors,
the system architectures and data analysis techniques.
In greater detail, the first chapter provides an introduction to the content of the course and some
background concepts. The second chapter presents advanced concepts for the design of satellite
missions in general, and then specifically for remote sensing Earth observation. The third chapter
is devoted to the definition of the main geographical reference systems and standards, the basics
of the geographical information systems and of 3D visualization, which are important for the
management and archiving of geo-information. The fourth chapter illustrates recent technologies
and techniques that are fundamental in crucial applications, such as techniques for analysis of
multitemporal images and time series of data, interferometry and differential interferometry, and
multiscale analysis. Chapters 5 addresses the design criteria of systems for addressing the main
applications related to: i) environmental monitoring, ii) civil protection, iii) infrastructure monitoring,
and iv) surveillance at detailed scale. This parts will be developed with many practical examples
of real systems also in laboratory.

Programme

1. Introduction to Advanced Remote Sensing Systems and Related Complementary

Technologies
Background. General description of the main components of advanced systems for
environmental monitoring and land surveillance based on remote sensing (from
satellites, airborne and UAV platforms), proximal sensing, in-situ (ground) sensing,
ancillary data and geographical information systems. Sensor networks and sensor
web. Integrated Earth sensing. Data fusion. Data Assimilation. Taxonomy of sensors
and systems. Taxonomy of applications.

2. Concepts and Design Criteria for Earth Observation Satellite Missions

Approaches for the design of satellite missions: basics of space environment, analysis
of mission constraints, architecture of a satellite system. Payload definition and design.
Case study (example of design of real missions studied in detail).

3. Geographic Reference Systems and GIS

Reference systems, reference frame and coordinates. The reference ellipsoid.
Fundamentals of cartography. Cartographic projection and their main properties.
National and international standards. Fundamentals of GIS. Fundamentals of GNSS.

4. Advanced Techniques for Remote Sensing Image Analysis

- Analysis of multitemporal images and time series of data: taxonomy of change
detection techniques; change detection in multispectral and SAR images; pre-
processing chains; techniques for change detection: pixel-based techniques;
context-sensitive techniques; multiscale techniques; radiometric and semantic
changes; criteria for the design of change detection techniques; challenges in
change detection.
- Interferometry, differential interferometry and persistent scatteres techniques:
interferometric processing, interferometric coherence, phase unwrapping
techniques: branch-cut and LS; differential interferometry; persistent scatterers
technique.
 5. Advanced Systems and Applications
- Environmental Monitoring: Application requirements. Relevant satellite, airborne,
UAV and in-situ sensors and ancillary data. Systems and technologies for forest
monitoring, agriculture, glaciers monitoring, climate change monitoring, 3D models
extraction, etc.
- Civil Protection: Application requirements. Relevant satellite, airborne, UAV and in-
situ sensors and ancillary data. Systems and technologies for risk monitoring and
damage assessment in: landslides, subsidence analysis, forest fires, avalanches,
earthquakes, floods, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, etc.
- Infrastructure Monitoring: Application requirements. Relevant satellite, airborne,
UAV and in-situ sensors and ancillary data. Systems and technologies for urban
areas and infrastructure monitoring: building detection and monitoring, monitoring
infrastructures, bridge monitoring, detection of man-made objects, etc.
- Surveillance at Detailed Scale: Application requirements. Relevant satellite,
airborne, UAV and in-situ sensors and ancillary data. Systems and technologies for
surveillance of commercial activities and security in: industrial areas, port areas,
airports, etc.

Course constraints
The course requires the knowledge of the basis of remote sensing included in the remote sensing
system course (Sistemi di Telerilevamento).

Courses lectures
The course is based on standard lectures and lectures developed in the laboratory.

Exam
The exam consists in the development of a project related to the topics of the course.

Suggested books
- Copy of the slides projected during the lectures of the course;
- Material distributed during the course.