Remote Sensing of the Environment
Geosciences 444/544

Welcome to an introduction on how to map and understand the world as we see it from afar by the use of remote sensing techniques. The emphasis in this course is on understanding the underlying principles of acquiring and interpreting data from satellite-based remote sensing systems covering the electromagnetic spectrum from the ultraviolet through the microwave. In this course you will learn the basic physics of remote sensing, understand the various sensors that are currently available, and learn about environmental applications of remote sensing through image analysis. Remote sensing is now the technique of choice for mapping land use and land-use change, global atmospheric and ocean phenomena and application to a host of local and regional problems. Understanding the synergies and limitations of remote sensing is a major goal of this course.

The following are some organizational details:

1. Textbook: "Remote Sensing of the Environment, an Earth Resource Perspective, 2nd Edition (2007)" by John R. Jensen. Readings are assigned for nearly every lecture and students should complete the readings prior to the associated lecture.
2. Labs: Lab assignments are due the following week at the prior to your lab period. They are to be submitted electronically to the course folder in the lab. Late assignments will be penalized at the instructor's discretion.
3. Quizzes and Final Exam: There will be weekly quizzes starting in the second week (no midterm!) and the final exam is a comprehensive in-class exam that will be held on December 8th noon-2PM in Wilkinson 108.
4. Graduate Student Projects: Graduate students have an additional requirement to complete a project on the subject of their choosing. The subject should relate to the use of remote sensing techniques to solve problems in their field of study. You should discuss your proposed project Dr. Nolin within the first two weeks of the course. The project will be graded in two parts. Part I: You will need to provide me with a hardcopy version of your single-spaced, 2-page write-up that includes your problem statement and hypothesis, a description of the study site (with a map or an labeled image), a description of the remote sensing dataset(s), and an example of the data (showing me that you have downloaded the data and have worked with it). This is due on Monday, October 20th by 5PM. My mailbox is located in Wilkinson 104. Part II: The final portion of the project will be a 2-page extended abstract and a conference-style poster. The write-up will be a modification and completion of your previous extended abstract. There are templates for both the poster and the abstract on the course website. For both the poster and the abstract, you need to include an overview of the project (problem statement/hypothesis, significance, specific objectives, methodology, data sources, study area), presentation of the results, discussion and conclusions, a careful and clear presentation of figures, and a discussion of sources of error. A conference style presentation of the graduate student projects will take place on Wednesday, December 3rd and the extended abstracts are also due in class on that day.
5. Critique: All students will be involved in a round-robin critique of the graduate students posters. Each student will be assigned one poster to review and critique. The reviews need to involve a careful reading of the poster content and the extended abstract as well as a discussion of the project with the graduate student presenter. Critiques are due in class at the time of the final exam. You are required to describe and critique the graduate student project in such a way that it is clear that you have met learning objectives 1-4. A template for the critiques will be provided on the course website.
6. Grading: Grading is on an absolute basis, meaning that everyone has an opportunity to earn an A. Undergraduates: labs 40%, quizzes 35%, critique 5%, final exam 20%. Graduate students: labs 30%, quizzes 25%, term project 25% (Part I is graded as check, check plus, check minus; Part II, the completed project, is assigned a grade for the whole), critique 5%, final exam 15%. A weighting factor based on class attendance will be applied, if necessary, to determine the final grade.
7. Teaching Assistant: Biniam Iyob, Wilkinson 018, iyobbi@geo.oregonstate.edu. TA office hours are Thurs. 7:00 - 9:00PM (in Wilkinson 210).
8. Office Hours: My office hours are Tuesday from 10:00AM-12:00PM in Wilkinson 120 or by appointment. I am also regularly available to answer your questions by email.
   

9. Prerequisites: GEO 301 (Map and Image Analysis) is the prerequisite for this course. You will need to have basic skills in trigonometry and algebra. A basic understanding of physics is also helpful. Some lab assignments will require use of Excel spreadsheets.

Special notes:

• If you have a conflict between religious observances and class lectures or labs please let me know in advance so these can be made up.
• Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should be aware of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, and no later than the first week of the term. Class materials will be made available in accessible format upon request.
• Absences that are not excused will be considered in calculating your final grade.
• Please review the OSU policies on classroom conduct and academic honesty at http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm.

Last Updated: 10/3/08 9:38 AM

http://www.geo.oregonstate.edu/~nolina/GEO444_544

copyright Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University