35117 - Electromagnetic Techniques for Localization and Environmental Control (2nd Cycle)

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Moduli: Gabriele Falciasecca (Modulo 1) Enrico Maria Vitucci (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering for Energy (cod. 8770)

Learning outcomes

The course provides basic knowledge of electromagnetic propagation and scattering processes beyond and beside traditional applications such as radio transmission, to allow the extraction of useful information from the environment, including location, geometrical and physical characteristics of objects, using a remote sensing platform. The course also provides the methodological elements to understand and to design the most important remote sensing, navigation and localization systems. A detailed description of the architecture and functionalities of each system is delivered. Examples of remote sensing applications and findings regarding the Ozone Hole, Sea temperature and Climate Change are provided. The student will acquire hands-on experience of the characteristics and design of a custom-built microwave radiometer during exercise sessions in the lab.

Course contents

Introduction

The three fundamentals operations of ICT world: acquisition, elaboration and communication.

Focus on the information acquisition function through the usage of electromagnetic techniques.

Recalls on the radiation of electromagnetic waves and antennas: characteristic parameters of the antennas, link budget equation, antenna arrays.

Recalls on multipath propagation. Mechanisms of interaction: refection, diffraction, scattering. The time-varying radio channel. Doppler effect, polarization, arrival direction.

Overview of broadband propagation and antennas, Fourier spectrum, possibility of UWB transmission.

Recalls on radio cellular systems, UWB and spread-spectrum transmission and their potentialities.

Main radiometric and photometric quantities: thermal emission of bodies, power spectral density and definition of radiance.

Solar radiation: solar constant, diffusion and absorption in the atmosphere, insolation, index of clarity, reflectivity (albedo). Interaction of solar radiation with the environment, radiative exchange and greenhouse effect, nod to the "heat island" effects in urban environment.

Remote sensing principles and methods:continuos wave, modulated sinusoid, code.

Interaction between electromagnetic waves, obstacles and atmophere.

Fundamentals of active and passive remote sensing. Radiometer. Primary Radar. SLR and SAR Radar, Lidar, Scatterometers. Applications and examples.

Applications and examples: use of meteorological radar for nowcasting, hydrometeor detection, and disaster prevention (floods, landslides). Use of Lidar and laser scanners for the detection of pollutants in the atmosphere and measurement of greenhouse gases.

Automatic data collection and cooperative systems: SSR, RFID and Telepass.

Basic principles of electromagnetic techniques for radiolocalization: general architecture and merit figures of a radiolocalization system, classification of radiolocalization methods (Angle of Arrival, Time of Arrival, Time Difference of Arrival, …), impact of real propagation on position estimation accuracy.

 

Technologies for radiolocalization: Introduction to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS. Principles of GPS operation. Architecture of GNSS systems and possible applications. Radiolocalization techniques based on cellular networks (outline). Indoor positioning: use of anchor nodes, WiFi fingerprinting, wireless sensor networks. High precision localization through UWB systems (overview). Multistatic radar systems for surveillance and intrusion detection, object detection and recognition.

Integration of telecommunication systems with radiolocalization systems: integration of systems devoted to information transmission with systems devoted to the evaluation and acquisition of mobile users position.

Radio control for landing: ILS. New systems and services for the security and the control of vehicles and of aircrafts in the airport surface.

Localization of radio emissions: direction finding and applications.

Usage of integrated TLC/GPS systems for infomobility of transport vehicles and for the monitoring of nature calamities such as arsons.

Other environmental monitoring applications. Remote sensing airborne techniques: use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipped with multiple active and passive radar and optical sensors for applications such as: detection of soil and water status, coastal zone erosion, support for precision agriculture and viticulture.

Readings/Bibliography

The Professors will provide students with lesson notes and powerpoint slides. All material will be made available on the Moodle platform.

Consultation and in-depth texts for specific topics:

    • G. Falciasecca, "Dopo Marconi il diluvio. Evoluzione nell'infosfera", Ed. Pendragon, 2016.
    • Merrill Skolnik, "Radar Handbook", Third Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2008.
    • F. Berizzi, "I sistemi di telerilevamento Radar", Apogeo, 2010.
    • W. G. Rees, "Physical Principles of Remote Sensing", 2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2001.
    • C. Elachi, J. Van Zyl, "Introduction to the physics and techniques of Remote Sensing", 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2006.
    • F. T. Ulaby, D. G. Long, "Microwave Radar and Radiometric Remote Sensing", Artech House, 2015.
    • R. M. Rauber, S. W. Nesbitt, "Radar Meteorology - A first course" Wiley, 2018.
    • Kuo-Nan Liou, "An Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation", Academic Press, 1980.
    • P. Dong, Q. Chen, "LiDAR Remote Sensing and Applications", CRC Press, 2018
    • Claus Weitkamp, "LIDAR : range-resolved optical remote sensing of the atmosphere", Springer, 2005.
    • A.I. Kozlov, L.P. Ligthart, A.I. Logvin, "Mathematical and physical modelling of microwave scattering and polarimetric remote sensing", Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004.
    • P. Misra, P. Enge, “Global Positioning System: Signals, Measurements, and Performance (Revised Second Edition)”, Ganga-Jamuna Press, 2012.
    • B. Hofmann-Wellenhof, H. Lichtenegger E. Wasle, "GNSS – Global Navigation Satellite Systems. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and more", Springer, 2007.
    • P. D. Groves, "Principles of GNSS, Inertial, and Multisensor Integrated Navigation Systems", Artech House, 2008.
    • S. Frattasi, F. Della Rosa, "Mobile Positioning and Tracking - From Conventional to Cooperative Techniques" 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2017.
    • D. Dardari, E. Falletti, M. Luise, "Satellite and Terrestrial Radio Positioning Techniques: A Signal Processing Perspective", Academic Press, 2012.

During the course and in the lesson notes more information about bibliography will be given.

Teaching methods

Lectures held by the course professor and practical exercises in labs.

During the lessons applicative examples will be presented, and also numerical exercises similar to those required during the exam.

During the course a seminar will be held by exponents of the industrial world, operating in the field of remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and processing of satellite data.

Assessment methods

The final assessment consists in an oral examination divided into 3 questions, the first of which is written. The questions relate to the entire course program (both module 1 and module 2).

Each of the 3 questions is assigned a score from 0 to 10 points. The honors are awarded at the discretion of the teachers if the maximum score is achieved in each of the 3 questions, and after further widening on the topics dealt with during the interview.

The first question (written) is aimed at solving a design / numerical problem. The aid of calculation tools is allowed.

To be able to take the exam it is mandatory to register on ALMAEsami.

Teaching tools

Technical visits and in-class demonstrations will alternate traditional in-class lectures.

Self-evaluation tools will be made available on the online Moodle platform, so that the students can assess their state of preparation for the exam.

Office hours

See the website of Enrico Maria Vitucci

See the website of Gabriele Falciasecca

SDGs

Sustainable cities Climate Action Life on land

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.