67387 - Remote Sensing and GIS (Graduate Course)

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge about Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in different applications (environmental cases, networks and infrastrucrures, urban systems, risk management) and the use of satellite  remote sensing imagery, of different type and origin, for deriving qualitative and quantitive information about the territory (at urban, basin amd regional scales) and its change during the time.
At the end of the course, the student must be able to use together GIS software tools and Remote Sensing imagery for the analysis and management of georeferenced databases in different applications of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Course contents

REMOTE SENSING

Digital images: characteristics and techniques for acquisition, CCD sensors, radiometric and geometric resolution, data formats.

Review about the main functionalities of Digital Photogrammetric Workstations, from DTM generation to orthophotos.

Remote Sensing: hystory and main concepts about the components of a system.

Energy, radiation and electromagnetic spectrum, the measured quantities, fundamental physical laws. Interaction with the atmosphere and the natural surfaces (vegetation, water, soil). Multispectrality and spectral signatures: examples.

Visualization and processing of digital satellite imagery. Colour systems. Analysis and image exploration by histograms and statistical parameters. Image enhancement and image restoration, digital filters. Pre-processing of the images, correction for atmospheric effects, sensor calibration. Operations with different bands, the example of Vegetation Indexes. Correlation, Principal Components Analysis.

Main satellite platforms and missions for optical remote sensing: Landsat, SPOT, IRS, ASTER, Ikonos, QuickBird, WorldView. Hyperspectral data. Characteristics and availability of images, data distribution and costs.

The landcover classification process and the production of a thematic map by remote sensing data. Supervised and unsupervised classification, hard and soft approaches. Object-based techniques.

Remote sensing applications in risk management and for the monitoring of territory and infrastrutures.

Introduction to microwave sensors, radar and SAR, differential interferometry, PSI technology.

Notes about LIDAR systems and related applications.

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) for the capture, storage, manipulation, analysis and display of geographic information: from the basic structural elements to the main applications in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Algorithms and techniques for data manipulation in a GIS; procedures for spatial analysis in raster and vector environments for different kinds of applications: resource allocation, network management (transports, hydraulics), natural or anthropogenic risk phenomena, etc.). Standardization and data exchanging in the professional context.

Review of commercial and scientific GIS products, main functionalities and operations.

Use of satellite imagery and derived products in GIS applications.

Readings/Bibliography

- publications and scientific papers provided by the lecturer

- Brivio P.A., Lechi G., Zilioli E.: Principi e metodi di telerilevamento. CittàStudi Edizioni, 2006

- Dessena M.A., Melis M.T.: Telerilevamento applicato. Mako Edizioni, 2006

- Lillesand T.M., Kiefer R.W., Chipman J.W.: Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation. John Wiley & Sons, 2004

- Mather P., Koch M.: Computer Processing of Remotely-Sensed Images: An Introduction, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2010

- Canty M.: Image Analysis, Classification and Change Detection in Remote Sensing: With Algorithms for ENVI/IDL. Taylor and Francis, 2010

- Burrough P.A. & McDonnell R.A.: Principles of Geographical Information Systems, Oxford University Press, 1998

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises in Laboratory by different Remote Sensing and GIS software (commercial and open source)

Assessment methods

Oral examination (some preliminary written tests are possible).

Teaching tools

Multimedia support.

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Bitelli