Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Earth Observation (PGGE11313)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Earth Observation is the use of remote observations, from the ground, from drones, or from space-based sensors, to make inferences about the state of Earth's varied environments. These observations usually consist of measurements of electromagnetic (EM) radiation made by specialist sensors at times and locations constrained by the mechanics of satellite orbits. A wide variety of wavelengths of EM radiation are used, with different wavelengths imprinted with different information about Earth, and subject to different capabilities and limitations. New sensors and techniques are constantly being developed. |
| Course description |
Earth Observation is the use of remote observations, from the ground, from drones, or from space-based sensors, to make inferences about the state of Earth's varied environments. These observations usually consist of measurements of electromagnetic (EM) radiation made by specialist sensors at times and locations constrained by the mechanics of satellite orbits. A wide variety of wavelengths of EM radiation are used, with different wavelengths imprinted with different information about Earth, and subject to different capabilities and limitations. New sensors and techniques are constantly being developed.
To extract insight from remotely sensed data involves the techniques of retrieval (also known as: inversion, estimation) and image processing. In this course, students have the opportunity to use a range of software to undertake simple retrieval and image processing, applied to a comprehensive range of multispectral, SAR, and lidar sensors.
There are many applications of remote sensing in the domains of environmental science, policy and treaty verification, military applications, meteorology, oceanography, agriculture and ecology. In this course, an overview of applications and techniques is provided.
Any serious use of remotely sensed observations requires the user to be familiar with this wide range of knowledge, to select appropriate observations and use them with understanding.
This course will consist of 10 four-hours combined lecture/tutorial/practical sessions. The typical format will be 1 hour lecture session followed by a 1 1/2 hour lecturer and demonstrator led tutorial and followed by 1 1/2 hour student led practical; however this is not a strict structure and it will vary. The theory and information provided in the lectures will be reinforced by the tutorials and applied by the students in the practicals. There will be mocked assessment during some practicals that students can use as formative feedback. The feedback can then be used to improve the components and these contribute to the final assessed assignment.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 40,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
60 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
40% coursework «br /»
60% exam«br /»
«br /»
|
| Feedback |
The following are your opportunities to obtain feedback on your learning from us during this course:
Questions and answers in lectures. Questions are encouraged during lectures, and give you an opportunity to check your understanding, and obtained more information in areas of interest to you.
Practical will be running from week 1 to week 11. Feedback will be given on an ongoing basis during class. Any further questions may be directed to the Demonstrators and to Dr Noel Gourmelen.
From individual written comments on assessed coursework and examinations scripts. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals and future direction of Earth Observation.
- Explain the nature of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with the earth's surface and atmosphere.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the differences between remote sensing systems and be aware of their characteristics and limitations.
- Critically analyse, process and evaluate remotely sensed images and be able to use remote sensing to achieve self-defined goals.
- Build creative solutions using image processing principles to new problems.
|
Reading List
Lillesand, T. M. and Kiefer, R. W. (2015). Remote sensing and image interpretation. Seventh Edition. Wiley, 736pp.
Campbell, J.B. (2022). Introduction to remote sensing. (6th edition). Taylor and Francis (or Guildford), London. 622pp.
Rees, W. G., (2012) Physical principles of remote sensing 3rd ed, CUP.
Martin, S (2014) An Introduction to Ocean Remote Sensing, Second edition, Cambridge University Press.
Mather, P.M. (2010). Computer processing of remotely-sensed images: an introduction. Fourth Edition. Wiley and Sons, Chichester. 292pp.
Jensen, J.R. (2015). Introductory digital image processing: A remote sensing approach. Fourth Edition. Prentice-Hall.
Wegmann, Leutner & Dech, (2016), Remote Sensing and GIS for Ecologists
Barrett, E.C. and Curtis, L.F. (2013). Introduction to environmental remote sensing (4th edition). Taylor and Francis, London. 480pp.
Frazier * Singh, (2023), Fundamentals of Capturing and Processing Drone Imagery and Data
International Journal of Remote Sensing (Some volumes [1984 - mostly present] in Drummond Library,
Complete set in James Clark Maxwell Library, King Buildings)
Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing (Main Library, George Square)
Remote Sensing of Environment (Main Library, George Square)
IEEE Transactions in Geosciences and Remote Sensing (Robertson Library and Heriot-Watt University)
ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (Drummond Library) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Allow students to engage with a range of theoretical ideas and practical techniques in remote sensing
Have an understanding of some of the recent forefront developments
Enable students to interpret a variety of source material and be able to make professional-standard judgements where data are limited or comes from a range of sources;
Provide training in critical analysis and in written presentation so students are able to critically identify and analyse complex problems to a professional standard. |
| Keywords | Earth Observation,remote sensing,drones,satellites,data analysis |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Noel Gourmelen
Tel: (0131 6)50 2662
Email: Noel.Gourmelen@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Felicity Smail
Tel:
Email: Felicity.Smail@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage