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Geospatial Science

Remote Sensing

Franz Meyer

Starting with the basics of imaging, we will discuss concepts and functionality of airborne remote sensing and provide an introduction to multispectral imagery and the electromagnetic spectrum. The course will also introduce visualization of 3D mapping on earth from images including stereo-photogrammetry and discuss earth observation, advanced remote sensing methods such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and hyperspectral sensing.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Participants in this course will develop the following skills:
  • Intuitive understanding of the concepts of remote sensing
  • Understanding the properties of different sensor types including multispectral, hyperspectral, and radar sensors
  • Ability to pick the optimal sensor for your application
  • Understanding of the concepts of stereo-photogrammetry and related data products intuitive understanding of the concepts of remote sensing and satellite imagery
  • Understanding of the concepts of stereo-photogrammetry and related data products

Syllabus

Week 1: The Concepts of Aerial Remote Sensing
Week one will introduce you to the main content and format of this course. The following items will be addressed:
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides an intuitive understanding of remote sensing concepts, which is essential for interpreting and analyzing geospatial data in various applications
Explores advanced imaging techniques like SAR and hyperspectral sensing, which are increasingly important for environmental monitoring and resource management
Develops the ability to select the optimal sensor for specific applications, which is a crucial skill for effective remote sensing projects and research
Examines stereo-photogrammetry and related data products, which are foundational for creating 3D models and extracting spatial information from images
Requires interactive activities and exercises, which may require access to specific software or datasets not readily available to all students
Focuses on aerial remote sensing, which may not cover satellite-based remote sensing in as much depth, potentially limiting its scope for some users

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Reviews summary

Geospatial remote sensing concepts overview

According to learners who have taken "Geospatial Science: Remote Sensing," the course offers a good conceptual overview of key topics including multispectral, SAR, and hyperspectral sensing. Students frequently praise the clear lectures and high quality presentations. The instructor is highlighted as knowledgeable and active in the discussion boards, providing helpful responses. However, a significant point raised by multiple reviewers is the course's conceptual focus, with a lack of practical exercises, particularly for advanced techniques like SAR and hyperspectral analysis. Students report needing to do supplementary research to gain practical data usage skills. While some find the assignments helpful for applying concepts, others desired more hands-on application.
Focuses on concepts and theory
"good overview"
"Covers the basics well"
"pretty conceptual"
Assignments allow applying concepts
"Assignments... allow you to apply what you learn"
Clear lectures and active instructor support
"Presentations are high quality"
"Lectures were clear"
"Best of all, the instructor is active in the discussion boards and responds to student questions"
"Instructor really knows his subject"
Limited hands-on data processing
"Did not teach me how to actually *use* data from SAR or hyperspectral imaging systems"
"Wish there were more practical exercises, especially for SAR/hyperspectral"
"Needed to do a lot of research and reading on my own to get practical understanding."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Geospatial Science: Remote Sensing with these activities:
Review Electromagnetic Spectrum Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is crucial for grasping multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing concepts.
Browse courses on Electromagnetic Spectrum
Show steps
  • Review textbook chapters or online resources covering the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Complete practice quizzes on wavelength, frequency, and energy relationships.
  • Identify the different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and their applications.
Read 'Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation' by Lillesand, Kiefer, and Chipman
Supplement course materials with a comprehensive textbook that covers remote sensing principles, image interpretation, and applications.
View Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation'.
  • Read chapters relevant to the course syllabus, focusing on multispectral, hyperspectral, and SAR imaging.
  • Take notes on key concepts and examples.
Create a Multispectral Composite Image
Practice creating multispectral composite images using open-source software to solidify your understanding of spectral reflectance and image processing.
Show steps
  • Download open-source remote sensing software (e.g., QGIS with Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin).
  • Obtain multispectral imagery data for a region of interest.
  • Create different color composites and analyze their features.
  • Document the process and results in a short report.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Follow Online Tutorials on Stereo-Photogrammetry
Enhance your understanding of stereo-photogrammetry by following online tutorials that demonstrate the process of creating 3D models from overlapping images.
Show steps
  • Search for online tutorials on stereo-photogrammetry using software like Agisoft Metashape or Pix4D.
  • Follow a tutorial to create a 3D model from a set of overlapping images.
  • Analyze the accuracy and limitations of the resulting 3D model.
Explore 'Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Vegetation' by Thenkabail
Deepen your understanding of hyperspectral remote sensing with a specialized book focusing on vegetation analysis.
View Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices for... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Acquire a copy of 'Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Vegetation'.
  • Focus on chapters discussing spectral signatures of vegetation and applications in agriculture and forestry.
  • Summarize key findings and relate them to course concepts.
SAR Data Analysis Project
Undertake a project to analyze Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data for a specific application, such as flood mapping or land cover classification, to gain practical experience.
Show steps
  • Define a project scope involving SAR data analysis (e.g., flood extent mapping).
  • Obtain SAR data for the chosen area.
  • Process the SAR data using appropriate software (e.g., SNAP).
  • Interpret the results and create a final report.

Career center

Learners who complete Geospatial Science: Remote Sensing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Photogrammetrist
The role of a photogrammetrist involves creating maps and 3D models from aerial photographs and satellite imagery. This course directly enhances a photogrammetrist's abilities by building an understanding of stereo-photogrammetry and related data products. Week 3's focus on stereo-photogrammetry including technologies such as structure-from-motion, as well as reference frames and data collection, helps one to assess height information derived using structure-from-motion processing. For anyone seeking this career, the modules on the visualization of 3D mapping on Earth will be invaluable.
See salaries and explore the career path for Photogrammetrist
Remote Sensing Scientist
A remote sensing scientist analyzes data collected from satellites and aircraft to study the Earth's surface and atmosphere. This course may be particularly useful for understanding different sensor types. The course's introduction to multispectral imagery, the electromagnetic spectrum, advanced remote sensing methods like synthetic aperture radar, and hyperspectral sensing helps one to pick the optimal sensor for particular applications. The study of remote sensing technologies will be useful to a remote sensing scientist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Remote Sensing Scientist
Geospatial Analyst
A geospatial analyst uses geographic information systems to analyze spatial data and create maps, reports, and visualizations. This course helps build a foundation in remote sensing principles, which are key for understanding the data used by geospatial analysts. The course modules on aerial photogrammetry, multispectral remote sensing, and 3D mapping may be especially useful. Gaining skills in remote sensing enables a geospatial analyst to perform more in-depth analyses and create more informed insights.
See salaries and explore the career path for Geospatial Analyst
Cartographer
Cartographers design and create maps using various data sources. This course helps cartographers with remote sensing data handling, especially with modules on aerial photogrammetry and 3D mapping. Knowledge of stereo-photogrammetry and advanced imaging techniques can enable a cartographer to create more accurate and informative maps. The ability to visualize 3D mappings on Earth will be invaluable to the cartographer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Cartographer
Geographic Information Systems Technician
A geographic information systems technician assists in the collection, maintenance, and analysis of geospatial data. This course can help technicians build an understanding of remote sensing technologies, as well as how to handle multispectral imagery and create composites. Technicians can then better assist in the processing and analysis of remotely sensed data. They can also utilize the knowledge of 3D mapping from images to refine spatial data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Geographic Information Systems Technician
Surveyor
Surveyors measure and map the Earth's surface using various techniques, including remote sensing. This course helps build a foundation in aerial photogrammetry and 3D mapping, which are relevant to modern surveying practices. Modules covering height reference frames, stereo-photogrammetry, and data collection can sharpen a surveyor's knowledge base. The surveyor will be better equipped with remote sensing principles to create accurate maps.
See salaries and explore the career path for Surveyor
Natural Resource Manager
Natural resource managers oversee the use and conservation of natural resources. They often use remote sensing to monitor ecosystems and assess environmental impacts. This course may introduce advanced imaging techniques like SAR and hyperspectral sensing. These techniques are particularly useful for monitoring vegetation and water resources. The natural resource manager will be able to understand how SAR sensors see the world.
See salaries and explore the career path for Natural Resource Manager
Environmental Consultant
Environmental consultants assess environmental impacts and provide recommendations for sustainable practices. Remote sensing data is often used to monitor environmental changes. This course can provide consultants with a foundation in remote sensing principles and advanced imaging techniques like SAR and hyperspectral sensing. This allows them to better interpret and use remotely sensed data in their assessments. The course's introduction to multispectral imagery may also be very helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant
Urban Planner
Urban planners develop plans and strategies for the growth and development of cities and towns. Remote sensing data can provide valuable insights into land use, transportation patterns, and environmental conditions. This course may provide a useful introduction to aerial remote sensing and multispectral imaging, helping planners analyze urban environments using remotely sensed data. By understanding the concepts of multispectral imaging, a planner can inform their strategies with richer data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner
Agricultural Scientist
Agricultural scientists conduct research and develop methods to improve crop production and sustainability. Remote sensing data helps in monitoring crop health and mapping agricultural lands. This course may provide an introduction to multispectral remote sensing and hyperspectral sensing, helping scientists analyze spectral reflectance signatures of various surface types, including vegetation. The ability to understand the properties of different sensor types will be useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Scientist
Disaster Response Coordinator
A disaster response coordinator plans and coordinates relief efforts during natural disasters. This course can bolster a coordinator's understanding of how aerial images and photogrammetry can aid in rapid damage assessment. By understanding how to measure size and conduct spatial analysis from high resolution imagery, you will be able to coordinate efforts more effectively. A disaster resource coordinator who takes this course can have improved outcomes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Disaster Response Coordinator
Intelligence Analyst
An intelligence analyst gathers and interprets information to support national security and law enforcement. This course helps analysts utilize remote sensing data for surveillance and reconnaissance. By understanding the principles of synthetic aperture radar, an analyst can see through cloud cover and darkness. This course's material on aerial imaging may also be helpful, enhancing a professional's understanding of multispectral imagery.
See salaries and explore the career path for Intelligence Analyst
Climate Scientist
Climate scientists study long-term changes in weather patterns. This course may provide a climate scientist with an understanding of remote sensing technologies that monitor climate-related variables. SAR and hyperspectral sensing, in particular, help monitor changes in ice cover, vegetation, and sea level. In this way, learning about advanced imaging techniques helps climate scientists.
See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Scientist
Archaeologist
Archaeologists excavate and study historical sites. This course can assist archaeologists with remote sensing techniques that help identify potential dig sites. By understanding aerial images and aerial photogrammetry of the Earth's surface, an archaeologist can discover structures that are not visible from the ground. This course may be especially useful for analyzing remote sensing data sets and aerial photography.
See salaries and explore the career path for Archaeologist
Software Developer
Software developers design and develop computer applications. This course could provide valuable background knowledge for software developers who work on applications that process or visualize remote sensing data. Learning the concepts of remote sensing, and understanding the properties of different sensor types, enables them to develop more efficient and effective software. Software developers in this area may find this course helpful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Geospatial Science: Remote Sensing.
Cover image
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Save
Comprehensive resource on remote sensing principles and techniques. It provides a detailed overview of various remote sensing systems, data processing methods, and applications. It is commonly used as a textbook in remote sensing courses and offers in-depth explanations of concepts covered in the course, making it a valuable reference for students.
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Paperback
Check
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Kindle Edition
Check
Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices for Determining...
Save
Delves into the specifics of hyperspectral remote sensing, particularly its application to vegetation analysis. It provides detailed information on spectral signatures of different vegetation types and how hyperspectral data can be used for various applications such as crop monitoring and forest health assessment. This book adds more depth to the hyperspectral sensing section of the course.
Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices for Determining...
Paperback
Check
Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices for Determining...
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
4 to 6 hours per week for 4 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Instructor
Franz Meyer
Session
April 29, 2025 - June 30, 2026
Language
English
Transcript
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides an intuitive understanding of remote sensing concepts, which is essential for interpreting and analyzing geospatial data in various applications
Explores advanced imaging techniques like SAR and hyperspectral sensing, which are increasingly important for environmental monitoring and resource management
Develops the ability to select the optimal sensor for specific applications, which is a crucial skill for effective remote sensing projects and research
Examines stereo-photogrammetry and related data products, which are foundational for creating 3D models and extracting spatial information from images
Requires interactive activities and exercises, which may require access to specific software or datasets not readily available to all students
Focuses on aerial remote sensing, which may not cover satellite-based remote sensing in as much depth, potentially limiting its scope for some users
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